Development of a deployment infection control course

Since the beginning of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, multidrug-resistant bacteria have been noted to be infecting and colonizing combat casualties. Studies suggest the primary source of these bacteria is nosocomial transmission. A focus area for improvement has been to enhance infection control (IC) at hospitals in the combat theater. A 5-day IC course was developed and implemented to provide just-in-time training to those personnel who have been identified to lead IC efforts while deployed. Twenty-nine students have attended the first 6 offerings of this course. A pre-and post-course test showed an average 21% improvement in knowledge. A follow-up questionnaire provided to those students who deployed found the course had enhanced performance of their IC duties. We describe the deploymentunique training developed to provide basic IC, emphasizing the unique challenges found in the combat setting.