Celebrate International Infection Prevention Week!

Each year, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), shines the light on the demanding work preventionists do every day to keep patients healthy and safe.

International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) was established in 1986. The theme for 2024 is “Moving the Needle on Infection Prevention.” This year’s theme moves IIPW a step beyond the effort simply to raise awareness about the importance of infection control and the role infection preventionists play in protecting patients from surges in healthcare-associated infections and infectious threats.

The idea behind “Moving the Needle” is to engage all stakeholders in the infection prevention and control field and make tangible improvements that practitioners can apply on the job. APIC has also launched a new research center that issued a report last month about how to fill knowledge and practice gaps in the industry.

"We mark International Infection Prevention Week to spotlight the important role each of us plays in moving the needle on infection prevention,” says APIC President Tania Bubb, PhD, RN, CIC, FAPIC. “While much progress has been made, there’s still opportunity for improvement – the CDC estimates that 1 in 31 patients get a healthcare-associated infection while in the hospital."

APIC has released the following suggested schedule for participants:

• Sunday, Oct. 13, is Swag Your Social Day. APIC has IIPW logos that can be used in social media posts and suggests using the #IIPW hashtag to increase your reach.
• Monday, Oct. 14, includes a live chat on X and Instagram Threads from noon to 1 p.m. Use #IIPWChat to participate. The questions that will serve as conversation starters for the chat are available to organizations and influencers by contacting APIC prior to the chat.
• Tuesday, Oct. 15, features a daylong webinar about how artificial intelligence will impact the field. The session, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., is free for APIC members. To register, visit https://osmag.net/webinar. It’s also Global Handwashing Day. Find out more at https://osmag.net/hygiene.
• Wednesday, Oct. 16, focuses on patient safety. There are three free live presentations from 9:30 to 11 a.m. ET, followed by a Q&A session. Register at https://osmag.net/event.
• Thursday, Oct. 17, is devoted to getting up to date on flu shots and vaccines and reminding colleagues to do the same.
• Friday, Oct. 18, is an early celebration of Clean Hospitals Day, which is actually Oct. 20, the last day of IIPW and falls on a weekend this year. Learn more about this year’s theme that celebrates the crucial work of environmental services workers at https://osmag.net/clean. OSM