Join the Fun During International Infection Prevention Week

International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) begins Oct.19 and runs through Oct. 25. Its organizer, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), is offering plenty of activities and resources for you to mark the occasion.

Here’s a brief breakdown of what awaits you at the official IIPW website, InfectionPreventionAndYou.org.

In addition to daily Wordles, each business day of IIPW features its own unique activity:

• Monday: Virtual Escape Room
• Tuesday: IP [Infection Prevention] Scavenger Hunt
• Wednesday: Design Your IP Shield
• Thursday: Beat the Bugs Crossword
• Friday: Thank You Cards

An activity called The IP Factor is “your chance to celebrate the people, projects and outcomes” that make your infection prevention efforts extraordinary. APIC invites you to fill out a submission form to send “photos, videos, songs, poems, art projects … anything that you think captures the essence!” The content will be reviewed and prepped for sharing on LinkedIn, Instagram and the IIPW site. You’re encouraged to share your story on your own socials too using hashtags #TheIPFactor and #IIPW2025.

The Social Spotlight program not only provides three prepared posts that you can share on your social platforms (one of them is the image at the top of this story), but APIC also says the IIPW site will spotlight your own unique posts that use #IIPW and #InfectionPrevention. “Whether it’s a selfie, a photo of your IIPW celebration or a shoutout to your team, we want to see it!” writes APIC.

The IIPW site also offers a range of free infection prevention promotional videos you can post as well as infographics, brochures, flyers and posters to educate patients about preventing infection.

Finally, you can snag official IIPW merchandise including apparel and accessories that features the 2025 IIPW theme “Stand UPPP for Infection Prevention.” OSM