International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW), established in 1986, highlights the importance of infection prevention and the crucial role that infection preventionists (IPs) have in keeping our community safe and healthy. IPs are professionals who make sure health care workers and health facilities are doing all the things they should to prevent infections from spreading. IPs come from a variety of backgrounds – many have training as nurses, epidemiologists, public health professionals, microbiologists, lab technicians, or doctors. The infection prevention and control community protects us from surges in health care-associated infections, measles outbreaks, flu, COVID-19, and so many other day-to-day infectious battles.
The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology has spearheaded International Infection Prevention Week to highlight the significance of infection prevention among health care professionals, administrators, legislators, and consumers. This year’s theme – “Celebrating the Fundamentals of Infection Prevention” – highlights getting back to the basics of infection prevention for everybody.
Over the years, this week of recognition has expanded to every corner of the globe, including Australia, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. As the reach of IIPW widens, more patients benefit from safer health care practices and a reduced threat of health care-associated infections.