Highlights
- •Source, transmission, cross infection, hazards, risks within higher education.
- •Recommendations to protect people with cystic fibrosis at university/college.
- •Importance of risk assessment and good communication.
- •Guidance for students, educators, health/wellbeing and healthcare teams.
- •Glossary of clinical, microbiological and educational/pedagogical terms.
Abstract
Background
The avoidance of cross-infection remains of critical importance to prevent the transmission
of cystic fibrosis (CF)-related microbial pathogens to persons/people with cystic
fibrosis (PwCF). To date, there has been a paucity of infection prevention and control
(IPC) guidance relating to infection risk at higher educational institutions. With
improvements in treatments, more PwCF are now attending universities/colleges and
educational institutions now seek CF-specific guidance on IPC from clinical CF teams/centres.
Methods
Real world infection-related questions from university students, educators, university
support staff and the CF multidisciplinary team were received and collated from various
stakeholders, including individual consultations and focus group sessions with two
local universities. Subsequently, evidence-based recommendations were compiled from
existing peer-reviewed literature and from cystic fibrosis organisations. Glossaries
were constructed relating to clinical, microbiological and educational/pedagogical
terminology to aid with the understanding amongst these stakeholder groups.
Results
This review addresses CF-related IPC recommendations across five areas of university/college
life, including (i) on campus estate, (ii) teaching (lectures/tutorials/small study
group work/group assignments), (iii) laboratory practicals, (iv) field trips/study
visits/work placements and (v) residential accommodation and lists practical recommendations
to help prevent the transmission of infections to PwCF students.
Conclusions
It is important that the educational institutional environment is safe permitting
the PwCF student to enjoy their educational experience and journey through higher
education, culminating in achievement of their educational goals, employment and independent
living. The guidance presented in this review is intended to equip educational establishments
in creating their own bespoke and robust IPC policies relating to PwCF students.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 12, 2023
Accepted:
December 7,
2022
Received in revised form:
December 6,
2022
Received:
September 13,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2022 Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
