BTS CPI study plan

Map the infection prevention and control (IPC) program's governance structure by naming the committee/board reporting line, the ICP's scope of authority, and the budget-approval path, then write a one-page org chart with annotations

Draft an annual IPC risk assessment that ranks at least eight infection risks by likelihood and impact using a scored matrix, and justify the top three priorities in writing

Translate the Joint Commission/CMS infection control standards into a checklist of at least 15 survey-ready evidence items (policies, logs, meeting minutes, competency files)

Build a performance-improvement charter for one IPC problem using a model such as PDSA or DMAIC, stating the aim statement, measures, and team roles

Identify the reporting relationships and required notifications (public health, accreditor, leadership) for a single confirmed high-consequence infection event

Explain the chain of infection for at least five pathogens (MRSA, C. difficile, CRE, influenza, Candida auris) by naming reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, and portal of entry

Distinguish colonization from infection and describe how each affects isolation and surveillance decisions

Compare bacteria, viruses, fungi, and prions on structure, replication, and susceptibility to disinfection, and state the practical cleaning implication for each

Describe the main transmission routes (contact, droplet, airborne, vector, common vehicle) and match each to the precautions that interrupt it

Explain how pathogenicity, virulence factors, and inoculum size influence attack rates and outbreak potential

Define and distinguish incidence, prevalence, attack rate, case fatality rate, and standardized infection ratio, and compute each from a worked dataset

Apply the NHSN surveillance definitions for CLABSI, CAUTI, VAP, SSI, and laboratory-identified MDRO/C. difficile events to at least five practice scenarios

Calculate sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for a screening test and explain how prevalence shifts PPV

Outline the steps of an outbreak investigation from case definition through hypothesis testing and control measures, and apply them to a hypothetical cluster

Build a line list template with the fields needed to characterize person, place, and time, and construct an epidemic curve from sample data

Differentiate Standard Precautions from each Transmission-Based category and list the correct PPE ensemble and donning/doffing order for each

Apply the Spaulding classification to at least 15 reusable devices and assign each to critical, semicritical, or noncritical processing

Explain the difference between cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization, and select an appropriate disinfectant level and contact time for a given organism and surface

Describe high-level disinfection and sterilization monitoring (mechanical, chemical, biological indicators) and state the action taken when a biological indicator fails

Analyze a hand hygiene program using the WHO Five Moments and the multimodal improvement strategy, and identify three barriers to compliance in a given unit scenario

Assemble the evidence-based bundle elements for CLABSI, CAUTI, VAP, and SSI prevention and explain the rationale for each element

Calculate device utilization ratios and infection rates per 1,000 device-days for central lines, urinary catheters, and ventilators from sample denominator data

Design a C. difficile prevention and testing stewardship plan covering appropriate testing, isolation, sporicidal cleaning, and antibiotic review

Apply MDRO control measures (contact precautions, screening, cohorting, decolonization) to a scenario involving CRE or MRSA transmission in a unit

Evaluate a root cause analysis of a single CLABSI or CAUTI event and identify the system failures versus individual failures

Explain the core elements of a hospital antimicrobial stewardship program and describe how stewardship and IPC programs share data and interventions

Interpret an antibiogram and use it to justify empiric therapy and formulary decisions in a written case discussion

Outline the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requirements: exposure control plan, HBV vaccination offer, post-exposure evaluation, and recordkeeping

Describe post-exposure management for a needlestick or mucosal splash, including source testing, PEP options, and the timeframes involved

Identify healthcare worker safety hazards (TB, vaccine-preventable disease, sharps injuries, respiratory protection fit testing) and the corresponding control measures

Integrate surveillance, outbreak, and HAI content by working through at least 40 mixed practice questions and logging the reasoning behind every miss

Write a surveillance plan for one organism or HAI that specifies definitions, data sources, validation method, and reporting cadence

Conduct a mock data validation exercise by comparing a sample of chart reviews against surveillance records and calculating the discrepancy rate

Draft a business case or leadership briefing that translates an IPC metric into patient-safety and financial impact for an executive audience

Explain how to close the loop on surveillance findings: feedback to units, action plans, and re-measurement

Review all nine domain outlines and produce a personal gap list identifying the three weakest areas with specific remediation resources

Complete a full-length timed practice exam under test conditions and analyze results by domain to target final review

Recite from memory the key regulatory and accreditation requirements for infection control, including required policies, reporting, and survey documentation

Rehearse explaining IPC decisions to non-clinical stakeholders by drafting three short written responses to leadership-style scenario prompts

Finalize a one-page personal exam-day reference sheet of formulas, definitions, and precaution categories