Infection preventionists’ experiences during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from focus groups conducted with association for professionals in infection control & epidemiology (APIC) members

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 epidemiology changed dramatically in spring 2021 when vaccine became widely available and the Delta variant emerged. There was a need to identify current infection prevention challenges due to changing pandemic epidemiology. METHODS: Six focus groups were conducted via Zoom with APIC members in November and December, 2021 to elicit infection preventionists’ (IP) experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic after the Delta variant had emerged. Each focus group was audio recorded then transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was used to identify major themes. RESULTS: In total, 90 IPs participated (average of 15 IPs per focus group). Participating IPs described multiple issues they have faced during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic after the Delta variant emerged, including continuing challenges with personal protective equipment, changes in pandemic restrictions that caused confusion and pushback, the hope when vaccine first became available and then despair when there was more vaccine breakthrough than anticipated, staffing and medical supply shortages, overwhelming workloads, and anger towards health care personnel and IPs. However, IPs felt more valued by leadership, and reported greater internal collaboration and external coordination of care. CONCLUSIONS: The second year of the pandemic brought ongoing and new challenges for IPs, but also better coordination of care. Strategic initiatives are needed to address the identified challenges, such as how to prioritize tasks when IPs are overwhelmed.