APIC Research Foundation Awards Two Student Grants

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Two public health students have been named recipients of grants awarded by the APIC Research Foundations Student Grant Program.

Rolando Gonzalez, BS, MS a student at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health received an award for the research project, Evaluating Factors Affecting the Performance of Airborne Infectious Isolation Rooms. Peter Raynor, PhD, and Andrew J. Streifel, MPH, will serve as academic advisors. The investigators will develop a methodology to evaluate airborne infection isolation room (AIIR) containment of contaminated air using carbon dioxide as a tracer gas.  They will examine several parameters that could affect performance, including pressure differentials, room sealing, frequency of entry, and duration of time in the anteroom.   

The second recipient, Jeffrey Roberts, a student at the University of Louisville School of Public Health will study Recommended vs. Existing Healthcare Worker Immunization Practices. The investigators will conduct an online survey of infection prevention and control professionals in acute and long-term care facilities in Kentucky to determine existing personnel health program practices related to immunizations.  Existing practices will then be compared to CDC-ACIP recommended practices to identify areas for educational and other interventions. Ruth M. Carrico, PhD, RN, CIC, and Linda K. Goss BSN, RN, CIC, will serve as advisors on the project.

Were proud of these students and the tasks theyve decided to take on, and proud to contribute to their future education by providing them with this grant money, said Susan Slavish, BSN, MPH, CIC, chair of the APIC Research Council. These student efforts have been quite successful in the past and we feel confident they will be just as fruitful this time.

APIC anticipates presenting the outcomes of the student research projects at a future annual conference.

The student grant program makes funds available to graduate students in the health sciences to support a mentored research project in the field of infection prevention and control.  The student must identify an infection control professional (ICP) to serve as a mentor in the practice setting in which the study will take place. Funds are granted for research studies to be completed within one year.  Three awards, up to $5000 each, are available each year. The next application deadline is July 1, 2007 for fall 2007 semester.  Visit www.apic.org for information and forms. 

Source: APIC