Infection Preventionist
UCHealth
Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
My name is Sonja Anic, an Infection Preventionist at UCHealth Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs, currently holding my certificate in infection control (CIC) and a foreign graduate of medical school, University of Sarajevo in Bosnia.
Since September 2015, I have served as an Infection Preventionist at UChealth – Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs, CO. In this role, I educate physicians, staff, volunteers, and patients on infection prevention, including comprehensive training on the chain of infection and the use of personal protective equipment for new nurse residents. I maintain expert status in various NHSN modules, including those related to device-associated infections such as Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI), Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI), and Surgical Site Infections (SSI).
I monitor NHSN data to benchmark healthcare-associated infection (HAI) rates, identify trends, and implement strategies to reduce these infections. Additionally, I conduct hospital-wide CMS surveys and audits for both clinical and non-clinical areas across two hospital campuses, focusing on environmental care, MDRO precautions, isolation rounds, and accreditation readiness.
As part of my responsibilities, I review Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) documents, perform construction rounds to ensure environmental safety, and provide education for contracted construction personnel. I offer both initial and ongoing education for all hospital staff in accordance with guidelines from the CDC, TJC, and CMS.
I direct team members toward process improvements aimed at reducing healthcare-acquired infections and consult with management to implement evidence-based programs that support effective infection control strategies. Furthermore, I communicate and establish rapport with state and local public health officials and have spearheaded initiatives to enhance hand hygiene compliance by training hand hygiene champions within the facility.