Ideas That Work: International Infection Prevention Week Tips

Practical pearls from your colleagues

Want to participate in International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) — it’s Oct. 15-21 — but haven’t had the time to come up with anything? We’re here to help — and connect you with 21 suggestions from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) that offer quick-and-easy ways for you to do your part. Go here and click on “IIPW Ideas” for nearly two dozen Ideas That Work in one spot.

The suggestions include activities that will help you engage in the communities you’re a part of, such as organizing a handwashing and “cover your cough” demonstration at a local school or passing out hand sanitizers at a nearby bus stop, grocery store or public park. Internally, you could formally thank your in-house infection preventionist, create IIPW liners to place atop food trays, or simply add an IIPW message to your e-mail signature line.

No act is too small to highlight the importance of infection prevention at your facility, and Oct. 15-21 is the perfect time to do so. OSM