Broadening Beyond Healthcare: IPC Strategies for Safeguarding Schools

Session Description: Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a discipline traditionally associated with healthcare settings and not typically emphasized in K-12 schools. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored its critical importance outside of healthcare—particularly in educational environments. Currently schools are facing unprecedented challenges including funding, staffing shortages, and absenteeism of teachers and students. In a typical school year more than two-thirds of students miss school due to illness and in recent years chronic absenteeism has been at an all-time high. Implementation of IPC in schools is paramount and has the potential to not only safeguard health and safety but offers a solution to help schools increase attendance and funding.

This session will provide a comprehensive overview of IPC's evolution outside of healthcare and its current significance in schools. The session will explore fundamentals of IPC as it relates to educational settings, highlight the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recently published guidance, and use case studies to illustrate the impact of IPC strategies in mitigating school challenges such as absenteeism, academic achievement, and funding. The presentation will emphasize how diversity, equity, and inclusion can be incorporated into IPC practices ensure the safety of all students, regardless of background. Attendees will engage in interactive elements such as polls and discussion, employing adult learning techniques to foster a dynamic and participatory learning environment.

This session will go beyond driving understanding of the importance of IPC in schools; to recommend actionable steps towards implementation. With a focus on collaboration, the session will educate participants on how to work with various stakeholders to develop and execute successful IPC plans in schools. By the end of this session, attendees will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to champion IPC in schools, creating safer and more inclusive learning spaces for every child.