Kaila Cooper

About

Kaila Cooper’s research focuses on healthcare epidemiology and infection prevention, with a particular emphasis on optimizing disinfection protocols and reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Her major contributions center on challenging established practices and leveraging technology to improve patient safety. In her most cited work (58 citations), she led a quasi-experimental study demonstrating that discontinuing contact precautions for MRSA and VRE did not increase HAI rates—a finding that has significant implications for resource allocation and patient care. Cooper also pioneered the use of touchless ultraviolet (UV) light robots for terminal room disinfection, publishing influential work (24 citations) on the critical role of audit and feedback in ensuring compliance and effectiveness of such technologies. Her research underscores that even advanced disinfection tools require rigorous monitoring to achieve their full potential. Through these studies, Cooper has provided evidence-based guidance for infection control programs, showing that thoughtful de-escalation of precautions and systematic implementation of novel technologies can maintain safety while reducing burdens on healthcare systems. Her work is essential reading for anyone interested in practical, data-driven approaches to preventing infections in hospital settings.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Impact of Discontinuing Contact Precautions for Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and Vancomycin-Resistant <i>Enterococcus</i> : An Interrupted Time Series Analysis

   58 citations · 2018
2. 2
   Deployment of a touchless ultraviolet light robot for terminal room disinfection: The importance of audit and feedback

   24 citations · 2017
3. 3
   Will Audit and Feedback Drive Compliance with UV Robot Disinfection?

   2 citations · 2017

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links