The role of infection prevention conferences to build and maintain knowledge-sharing networks: a longitudinal evaluation.

Well-connected knowledge-sharing networks (KSNs) of infection preventionists are vital to the profession. Face-to-face networking during conferences is considered critical to build and maintain KSNs; however, this has never been formally studied. We used a pre-post survey design to evaluate the effect of a regional infection prevention meeting on the KSNs. We found that the meeting did not alter the KSNs of infection preventionists. Current meeting structures should be re-evaluated with a goal to improve KSNs.