Building a Safer Future: How the TEPHI 200-Series IPC Training Is Bridging Critical Gaps in Education

Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a cornerstone of safe, high-quality health care—yet many health care professionals face significant gaps in IPC education and training. As patient safety challenges grow and infection preventionists (IPs) experience burnout and workforce attrition, the demand for accessible, effective training has never been more urgent. That’s where the Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI) steps in. With the launch of its IPC 200-Series, TEPHI has created a flexible, no-cost learning platform that meets health care workers where they are—whether in rural clinics, community hospitals, or urban academic centers.

Led by Kayla E. Ruch, PhD, MPH, CPH, HACP, CIC, the 200-Series builds on the success of its 100-Series predecessor and continues to grow in reach and impact. Through live modules and recorded sessions on YouTube, the program addresses core IPC principles while introducing real-world case studies and scenario-based learning.

Infection Control Today^® (ICT^®) interviewed Rush about TEPHI and her poster presentation at the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) Spring Conference, which was held April 27 to 30, 2025, in ChampionsGate, Florida.

ICT: What inspired you to choose the topics for your presentation at the SHEA conference this year?

Kayla E. Ruch, PhD, MPH, CPH, HACP, CIC: IPC is more than a professional focus—it’s a passion. Having spent 7 years in the field and recently earning a PhD in Epidemiology, I have seen firsthand the gaps in IPC training and education. My dissertation centered on these challenges, reinforcing the urgent need for structured, accessible training for health care professionals.

The TEPHI IPC program was developed to bridge these gaps by offering a comprehensive, no-cost educational curriculum. This program allows health care workers to attend live lectures or access recorded modules via the TEPHI YouTube Channel. Our program SHEA poster presentation focuses on Year 2 (200-series) data, highlighting high engagement and consistent demand for structured IPC education.

ICT: Could you elaborate on the key points or takeaways you aimed to deliver to the audience during your session?

KER: The need for ongoing IPC education spans multiple disciplines, including physicians, nurses, infection preventionists, and pharmacists. The TEPHI IPC series engaged returning participants and received overwhelmingly positive feedback. As of January 14, 2025, the series had 1,088 attendees and 3,401 YouTube views. 8 out of 10 modules achieved a pass rate above 90%, serving as a knowledge retention metric. The post-evaluations (n=280) rated content highly (mean: 4.8/5.0) as beneficial, easy to understand, and clear/concise, and 90.4% of respondents indicated plans to implement the knowledge gained. These results highlight the strong need for structured IPC training and the effectiveness of the TEPHI IPC series in enhancing professional competency.

ICT: Were there any surprising insights or findings that emerged while preparing for your presentation, and if so, how did they impact your approach?

KER: The high demand for real-world case studies and scenario-based training was a surprising yet consistent takeaway. Many participants expressed the need for practical applications to better integrate IPC principles into their facilities. Additionally, some attendees revealed a lack of prior exposure to fundamental IPC concepts despite working in roles critical to infection prevention programs.

Notably, among those who completed post-module evaluations (n=280), a staggering 98.9% expressed interest in attending future sessions. This underscores the significant gap in IPC education and the urgent need for expanded training opportunities.

ICT: In your opinion, what are the most significant challenges that epidemiologists and other infection prevention personnel face today, and how does your presentation address these challenges?

KER: One of the most pressing challenges in IPC today is the lack of protected time for training, compounded by a growing shortage of qualified IPs. Staffing shortages, burnout, and insufficient institutional support make it difficult for healthcare facilities to retain certified IPs.

Another major challenge is gaining buy-in from stakeholders. IPC often remains overlooked until a harmful incident forces organizations to react rather than proactively invest in prevention strategies. IPC programs are frequently understaffed and underappreciated despite their critical role in patient and health care worker safety.

Projections indicate that the US IPC workforce may shrink by 40% over the next 4 to 5 years due to retirements and professional burnout. If left unaddressed, this gap could have severe consequences for health care-associated infection (HAI) prevention efforts.

Our presentation directly tackles these challenges by demonstrating the value of accessible, flexible IPC education, highlighting the need for institutional investment in structured training and retention strategies, and advocating for integrating IPC education into academic curriculums to build a more substantial pipeline of future IPs.

ICT: Do you have anything you’d like to add?

KER: I hope this is just the beginning of organizations and universities recognizing the need and desire for more curricula to be developed and implemented. Infection prevention and control is a robust field, and education and training must be accessible and prioritized for physicians, nurses, IPs, and public health professionals. By building a health care workforce with strong IPC education, understanding, and training, we can provide better patient care by reducing HAIs and creating a safer environment for our health care workers.