College of Respiratory
Therapists of Ontario
INFECTION PREVENTION & CONTROL
Clinical Best Practice Guideline
March 2023
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This Clinical Best Practice Guideline (CBPG) was first developed in 2008 by a working group of the CRTO’s Patient Relations Committee (PRC) comprised of practising Respiratory Therapists (RTs). The Infection Control Working Group for the first version of this CBPG was also assisted by Dr. Mary Vearncombe, Dr. Allison McGeer and the Infection Control Team at Mount Sinai Hospital.
ORIGINAL WORKING GROUP MEMBERS:
Neeta Fraser RRT,
Asthma Educator/ Pulmonary Function Laboratory, Trillium Health Centre, Mississauga.
Libby Groff RRT,
Manager of Ambulatory Cardio-Pulmonary Program, Women’s College Hospital, Toronto & Professional Leader, Respiratory Therapy, Women’s College Hospital and Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, Toronto.
Chris Harris RRT,
Team Leader, ICU, London Health Science Centre/ University Campus, London.
Ginny Myles RRT,
Sr. Polysomnographer & Community RRT, Royal Victoria Hospital, Barrie.
Lisa O’Drowsky RRT,
Manager, Patient Safety, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Toronto
Rick Paradis RRT,
Charge Therapist, OR, Respiratory Therapy Department/ Anaesthesia, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto
Jodie Russell RRT,
Infection Control/Risk Management, Timmins and District Hospital, Timmins
Ian Summers RRT,
Faculty, Respiratory Therapy Program, Algonquin College, Ottawa
John Traill RRT,
Clinical Instructor, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto
Kelly Vaillancourt RRT,
Clinical Leader, Respiratory Therapy, McMaster Children’s Hospital, Hamilton.
CRTO STAFF
Mary Bayliss RRT,
Manager, Policy and Investigations
Carole Hamp RRT,
Professional Practice Advisor & Staff Respiratory Therapist, Guelph General Hospital
The CRTO is committed to ensuring that our standards and guidelines reflect the most current, evidence-based and best practices. Since the first version, the practice guideline has been revised twice. The CRTO would like to thank the following Professional Practice Committee and working group members for their participation and expertise that led to the updates to this CBPG.
INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL CBPG REVIEW 2011
Professional Practice Committee (PPC)
Paul Williams, RRT
Council Member and PPC Chairman
Dave Jones, RRT
Council Member
Sherri Horner, RRT
Committee Member
Jim Ferrie
Council Member/Public Member
Infection Control Specialists
Jennifer Blue RRT,CIC
Jane Montgomery RRT
Michelle Stephens RRT
CRTO Staff
Jennifer Harrison RRT
Professional Practice Advisor
CBPG INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL CBPG REVIEW 2016
Infection Control Specialists Working Group
Debbie Demizio RRT, BA, CIC
Infection Control Consultant, Public Health Ontario
Jodie Russell RRT, CIC
Infection Control/Risk Management, Timmins and District Hospital
Carol Turner RRT,
Clinical Engagement and Change Management, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance
Arpita Bhattacharya RRT, BSc RRT CIC
Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner, William Osler Health System
CRTO Staff
Carole Hamp RRT,
MA Manager of Quality Practice
CBPG INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL CBPG REVIEW 2022
Professional Practice Committee (PPC)
Arpita Bhattacharya, RRT
Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner, Guelph General Hospital
Infection Control Specialist
Arpita Bhattacharya, RRT
Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner, Guelph General Hospital
CRTO Staff
Kelly Arndt, RRT
Manager, Quality Practice
QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK?
This Clinical Best Practice Guideline will be updated as new evidence emerges or as practice evolves. Comments on this guideline are welcome and should be addressed to:
College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario, 180 Dundas Street West, Suite 2103, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1Z8
Phone 416-591-7800 | Toll Free 1-800-261-0528 | Fax 416-591-7890 | E-mail questions@crto.on.ca