STRIVE (States Targeting Reduction in Infections via Engagement) was a national initiative funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and aimed at improving infection control practices and strengthening health care-associated infection prevention stakeholder relationships at the local level.

Background

As the lead contractor, AHA’s Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET) recruited more than 400 hospitals nationwide to complete a 12-month STRIVE intervention program.

STRIVE used evidence-based HAI reduction strategies and relationship-based methods to address HAI rates in hospitals with a high cumulative attributable difference in Clostridioides difficile infection and at least one other of these HAIs: central line-associated bloodstream infection, catheter-associated urinary tract infection, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection.

HRET, along with the CDC and other expert partners, provided personalized technical assistance and online training. Courses addressed a wide range of topics, including environmental cleaning, patient and family engagement, and building a business case for infection prevention

 
 
 

Key Findings

A report evaluating the STRIVE program shows that new state-based alliances aimed at prevention are forming and behavioral changes are happening. Some hospitals achieved zero infections for the first time. Some measured moderate improvements. And others maintained their zero status.

Yet in aggregate, the findings revealed no statistically significant differences in infection rate changes during the intervention period. It’s important to note that this new data doesn’t conclude that the practices were ineffective; rather they indicate that challenges are unique to each hospital and more work needs to be done.

 
 
 

Recommended Training

Infection Control Courses | Environmental Services Courses

Infection Control (11 Courses) | CDC

The 11-course STRIVE online training series is now available to all health care professionals at no charge and accredited for continuing education. It offers foundational infection prevention strategies that cut across all HAIs and socioadaptive solutions, such as leadership engagement, to address attitudinal and cultural changes. There are also HAI-specific courses for CAUTI, MRSA bacteremia, CLABSI, and CDI prevention.

The courses can be used for new employee training and ongoing all-staff “refresher” training.

  • Developed by national infection prevention experts, the curriculum focuses on foundational and HAI-specific prevention practices. There are 3 training modules that cover competency based training, audits and feedback.

    Course details

  • Developed by national infection prevention experts, the curriculum focuses on foundational and HAI-specific prevention practices. There are 3 training modules that cover hand hygiene:

    Course details

  • Developed by national infection prevention experts, the curriculum focuses on foundational and healthcare-associated infection (HAI)-specific prevention practices. There is one training module that covers Strategies for Preventing Healthcare Associated Infections.

    Course details

  • Developed by national infection prevention experts, the curriculum focuses on foundational and targeted infection prevention practices. There are 3 training modules that cover Environmental Cleaning.

    Course details

  • Developed by national infection prevention experts, the curriculum focuses on foundational and targeted infection prevention practices. Four training modules cover Personal Protective Equipment.

    Course details

  • Developed by national infection prevention experts, the curriculum focuses on foundational and targeted infection prevention practices. There is one training module that covers Patient and Family Engagement.

    Course details

  • Developed by national infection prevention experts, the curriculum focuses on foundational and targeted infection prevention practices. There are two training modules that cover Building a Business Case for Infection Prevention.

    Course details

  • Developed by national infection prevention experts, the curriculum focuses on foundational and healthcare-associated infection (HAI)-specific prevention practices. There are 7 training modules that cover CAUTI.

    Course details

  • Developed by national infection prevention experts, the curriculum focuses on foundational and targeted infection prevention practices. There are 5 training modules that cover MRSA Bacteremia.

    Course details

  • Developed by national infection prevention experts, the curriculum focuses on foundational and targeted infection prevention practices. There are 7 training modules that cover CLABSI.

    Course details

  • Developed by national infection prevention experts, the curriculum focuses on foundational and targeted infection prevention practices. There are 6 training modules that cover CDI.

    Course details

Developed by: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Environmental Services (4 Courses) | APIC

A 4-module STRIVE online training course specifically for environmental services technicians and their important role in infection prevention and control is also available at no charge. The tools and resources are provided in both English and Spanish.

  • This module defines what an infection is, reviews the chain of infection, and discusses how important environmental cleaning is to break the chain of infection.

  • This module provides information on what basic personal protective equipment (PPE) is, how to don and doff it, and when and how to use it during routine EVS activities.

  • This module covers safety practices EVS personnel should follow to protect themselves, other staff, patients, and visitors when using chemical disinfectants.

  • This module covers best practices for cleaning and low-level disinfection of environmental surfaces in occupied patients rooms and at the time of patient discharge or transfer, as well as how to evaluate adequate cleaning.

Developed by: Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC)