Rhode Island Hospital
Multiplying the Success
Rhode Island Hospital – Department of Epidemiology and Infection Control
Providence, RI
The Department of Epidemiology and Infection Control at Rhode Island Hospital developed and implemented an aggressive infection prevention and control program that successfully reduced patients’ risk of developing nosocomial infections with multidrug-resistant pathogens. The team – Dr. Leonard Mermel, Julie Jefferson, RN, MPH, CIC, Kerry Blanchard, BS, MT, Sylvia Monti, BS, MT(ASCP), CIC, and Stephen Parenteau, MS, MT(ASCP), CIC – used a multidisciplinary approach that resulted in a sustained reduction in VRE, MRSA and ESBL-producing Gram-negative rods. The team continues to work with other disciplines and the Information Services Department to refine and automate the Rhode Island Hospital infection prevention and control plan to optimize patient safety.