State of Connecticut Executive Branch

Infection Control Practitioner (35 Hour) (4878HC)

$41.32-$55.83 Hourly / $2,891.96-$3,908.05 BiWeekly /
$75,480.00-$102,000.00 Yearly


PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state facility this class is accountable for coordinating the Infection Control Program and for serving as a liaison between all departments and the Infection Control Committee.

In the Department of Public Health this class is accountable for coordinating hospital-acquired infection control activities and serving as a liaison to health care facilities regarding infection control.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the general supervision of the Chairperson of the Infection Control Committee, Epidemiologist 3 or other employee of higher grade.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Conducts surveillance of infections in patients/clients and employees; 
  • Prepares monthly reports, statistical summaries and analyses of infections for the Infection Control Committee; 
  • Writes policies and procedures for infection prevention and control; 
  • Develops and conducts in-service education programs for all facility personnel to improve knowledge and practices of infection control and epidemiology of infectious diseases; 
  • Maintains records of all patients/clients with infections; 
  • Consults with Epidemiologists in Department of Public Health when clusters of infection occur and/or unusual pathogens are isolated; 
  • Reports and provides information required by Department of Public Health or other official bodies; 
  • Consults in infection control aspects of employee health program including immunization and other similar activities; 
  • Develops and updates isolation techniques according to current standards of practice which provide optimum care for patients/clients with infections; 
  • Monitors patient/client care activities to identify methods, techniques, equipment, supplies, new products and/or specific policies or procedures which may constitute a risk of originating or transmitting infections; 
  • Reviews sterilization and disinfection methods practiced in all areas of facility and makes recommendations for changes; 
  • May attend educational conferences related to specialty; 
  • Performs related duties as required.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

  • Trains infection control practitioners in acute care hospitals to conduct surveillance of hospital-associated infections according to accepted standards; 
  • Conducts on-site inspection of surveillance methods and findings; 
  • Analyzes surveillance results to determine rates of hospital-associated infections; 
  • Coordinates and conducts meetings with hospital infection control practitioners to review collective surveillance results and to establish best practices for surveillance and prevention of hospital-associated infections; 
  • Develops and implements educational programs for health care staff and the general public; 
  • Assists in the investigation of reported outbreaks of infections in hospitals and long-term care facilities; 
  • Provides consultation to infection control practitioners as needed; 
  • Assists in conducting pilot surveillance efforts for hospital infections not currently under statewide surveillance; 
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge of
    • principles and practices of infection control with special reference to infections and preventable diseases; 
    • theories and practices of microbiology, epidemiology, nursing, statistics and public health; 
  • Skills
    • interpersonal skills; 
    • oral and written communication skills; 
  • Considerable ability to conduct independent research and evaluate results in field of epidemiology and infection control.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

A Bachelor’s degree in nursing and three (3) years of professional experience in direct patient/client care services.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

A Master's degree in nursing may be substituted for one (1) year of the General Experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Incumbents in this class must possess and retain licensure as a Registered Nurse issued by the Connecticut State Department of Public Health in accordance with the applicable Connecticut General Statutes.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to undergo immunization for infectious diseases.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to communicable diseases and hazardous substances.

JOB CLASS DESIGNATION

Classified/Non-Examined

OCCUPATIONAL GROUP

(25)-Patient and Inmate Care

BARGAINING UNIT

(11)-HEALTH PROF (P-1)

EEO

(2)-Professional

SALARY INFORMATION

HC 25

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.

CANCELLATION CLAUSE

This replaces the existing specification for the class of Infection Control Practitioner (35 Hour) in Salary Group HC 25 approved effective October 30, 2015. (Revised to modernize format and Add Acknowledgement section. Reviewed for content.) Final No. 23-318

EFFECTIVE DATE

12/13/2023

CLASS: 4878HC; EST: 6/2/1978; REV: 12/18/2023;