The role of simulation-based training in healthcare-associated infection (HAI) prevention

OBJECTIVES: To perform a review of the literature on the role of simulation-based training (SBT) in healthcare-associated infection (HAI) prevention and to highlight the importance of SBT as an educational tool in infection prevention. METHODS: We reviewed English language publications from PubMed to select original articles that utilized SBT as the primary mode of education for infection prevention efforts in acute-care hospitals. RESULTS: Overall, 27 publications utilized SBT as primary mode of education for HAI prevention in acute-care hospitals. Training included the following: hand hygiene in 3 studies (11%), standard precaution in 1 study (4%), disaster preparedness in 4 studies (15%), central-line–associated blood stream infection (CLABSI) prevention in 14 studies (52%), catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) prevention in 2 studies (7%), surgical site infection prevention in 2 studies (7%), and ventilatory associated pneumonia prevention in 1 study (4%). SBT improved learner’s sense of competence and confidence, increased knowledge and compliance in infection prevention measures, decreased HAI rates, and reduced healthcare costs. CONCLUSION: SBT can function as a teaching tool in day-to-day infection prevention efforts as well as in disaster preparedness. SBT is underutilized in infection prevention but can serve as a crucial educational tool.