Credentialling in Australia for infection prevention and control: Philosophy, principles and practice

• Published in: Infection, disease & health
• Main Authors: Macbeth, Deborough, Viengkham, Catherine, Shaban, Ramon Z.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 13.09.2024
• Subjects: Certification; Credentialling; Healthcare quality assurance; Infection control practitioners; Infection preventon and control; Professional practice; Infection control practitioners; Infection preventon and control; Professional practice; Credentialling; Certification; Healthcare quality assurance
• ISSN: 2468-0451; 2468-0869; 2468-0869
• DOI: 10.1016/j.idh.2024.07.007

Infection prevention and control programs are vital to ensuring the health and wellbeing of healthcare consumers and staff. Infection control professionals who lead these programs are uniquely positioned with the knowledge, skills and attributes to direct effective infection control practices and policies within their healthcare setting. As with many specialisations, these individuals may choose to undertake a credentialling process, where their expertise and competence are evaluated and formally recognised by a professional body. Globally, there is growing evidence that credentialling improves the standard of practice of infection control professionals, and achieves beneficial outcomes for staff, patients and the broader healthcare systems in which they operate. In Australia, credentialling is a relatively new endeavour emerging in the mid 1990s with the rapidly evolving profile of the infection control professional. In this paper, we detail the history and evolution of credentialling of the infection control professionals in Australia. We also appraise the current three-tier credentialling framework, including its underlying philosophy, how it distinguishes between ‘competence’ and ‘capability’, the mechanisms it provides for career development, and its adaptation in response to critical contemporary developments in the field of infection control in Australia, including the expanding diversity of contemporary practice. •Credentialling improves the standard of practice of infection control professionals.•Three iterations of ICP credentialling have been developed in Australia since 2000.•The current credentialling framework offers three progressive levels of credentials.•This framework combines formal theoretical learning and practical experience.•Similar frameworks are now adopted internationally and for other specialisations.