Infection Prevention and Control in 2025: A Holistic Approach

October 24, 2025

Insights from Colleen Toebe, MSN, CWCN, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, DNS MT – Vice President of Clinical Services, Pathway Health

In today’s ever-evolving health care landscape, the importance of infection prevention and control (IPC) cannot be overstated. As pathogens continue to evolve, antimicrobial resistance increases, and resident populations become more medically complex, the need for effective IPC practices has never been greater. Fundamental principles, including, hand hygiene, proper PPE use, environmental disinfection, respiratory hygiene, and cough etiquette, remain the foundation of every successful infection control program.

Compliance Focus
CMS continues to emphasize infection prevention and control as a top regulatory priority under F880 (Infection Prevention and Control) and F881 (Antibiotic Stewardship Program). The CMS 2025 Nursing Home Action Plan reinforces expectations that facilities maintain a comprehensive, data-driven IPC program led by a qualified Infection Preventionist (IP).

Surveyors continue to place greater focus on:

  • Active infection surveillance systems that identify, track, and trend infections and antibiotic use.
  • Competency-based staff training and validation in hand hygiene, PPE use, and transmission-based precautions.
  • Integration of IPC with emergency preparedness and QAPI programs.
  • Ongoing evaluation of respiratory protection programs for COVID-19, influenza, RSV, and other emerging pathogens.

These updates reflect CMS’s continued commitment to aligning infection prevention with overall resident safety, quality of life, and regulatory compliance.

Making Infection Prevention Second Nature
While regulations set the framework, success depends on frontline engagement. The question for leaders becomes: How do we help staff fully embrace infection prevention so it becomes second nature in everything they do?

One effective strategy is to adopt a holistic approach to infection prevention—connecting staff knowledge and actions to the overall well-being of residents, caregivers, and the care environment.

The Holistic Approach: Integrating Mind, Body, and Environment
A holistic approach emphasizes the connection between physical health, emotional well-being, and environmental safety. It moves beyond compliance checklists to consider how infection prevention impacts the entire care ecosystem.

When staff understand infection prevention as part of a holistic model of care, they develop greater awareness, empathy, and accountability. This aligns with CMS’s ongoing focus on person-centered care, which prioritizes dignity, safety, and quality of life across all care interactions.

Leadership Considerations
Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a core care strategy for every organization across the care continuum, offering opportunities for process improvement, prevention, education, and observation. Consider the following leadership steps for implementing a holistic approach:

Refresh Your Approach to IPC: Evaluate and strengthen your IPC program one system at a time. Ensure staff are trained and competent in their respective infection prevention roles in alignment with CMS regulations and standards of practice.

  • Start with the fundamentals of infection prevention.
  • Redesign training to reflect a holistic perspective—demonstrating how infections impact residents and staff physically, emotionally, and psychologically.
  • Reinforce that staff actions directly affect vulnerable residents, especially those with chronic conditions, medical devices, or weakened immune systems.
  • Communicate the “Why” Behind Infection Prevention: Training should go beyond what needs to happen—emphasize why infection prevention matters and how it influences every aspect of resident and staff health and safety.
  • Prepare for the Respiratory Illness Season: A holistic approach encourages proactive engagement and awareness. As the respiratory illness season approaches, ensure readiness through education, policy review, and process updates, including:
  • Education / Training
    • Hand hygiene and PPE use
    • Vaccination programs (Influenza, COVID-19, RSV, Pneumococcal)
    • Disinfection practices
  • Recognition of respiratory illness signs/symptoms
    • Prevention and response strategies
  • Policy and Procedure Quick Check
    • Review and update all policies related to respiratory illnesses and outbreak management.
    • Validate occupational health procedures, vaccination policies, and emergency staffing plans.
  • Documentation Processes
    • Ensure consistent education documentation, informed consent, NHSN reporting, and vaccination tracking.
  • Supply Preparation
    • Confirm availability of PPE, disinfectants, testing kits, and vaccination supplies.
  • Communication Processes
    • Use infection events as learning opportunities for staff reinforcement and team collaboration.
  • Surveillance System:
    • Strengthen IP-led surveillance to identify infection trends and support QAPI-driven improvement plans.

Moving Forward: Embedding Holistic Thinking into Compliance
Organizations that embrace a holistic approach to infection prevention experience stronger engagement, improved outcomes, and enhanced survey readiness. By aligning CMS expectations with a comprehensive, human-centered perspective, leaders can transform IPC from a regulatory requirement into a foundation for quality and organizational strength.

Infection prevention and control in 2025 is about more than compliance; it’s about cultivating a holistic culture of safety, compassion, and accountability. A holistic approach strengthens staff engagement, enhances resident outcomes, and aligns with CMS’s vision for safer, person-centered care.

IPC Resources from Pathway Health

Purchase these IPC tools updated with the latest regulatory information

Updated: IPC Manual

Updated: QuickPATHs©

IPC CERTIFICATION

Infection Preventionist for LTC Providers – Certification

  • Nov. 3-7, 2025 | 8:30 am – 1:00 pm CT
  • 20 hours to meet some states’ requirements for Infection Preventionists

Posted in ,