International Infection Prevention Week, 2021

International Infection Prevention Week: 17th-23rd October, 2021

This year, International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) is dedicated to celebrating the world’s infection preventionists (IPs) and the role they continue to play in the current pandemic. IPs are essential to keeping the world safe and this is a great opportunity for everyone to highlight their bravery and tireless efforts to keep us safe. Join us in recognizing our IPs!

Make Your Intention Infection Prevention

The theme for this year’s IIPW is “Make Your Intention Infection Prevention” because infection prevention is more important than ever in the battle against a global pandemic and to keep the world safe from healthcare-associated infections. Infection preventionists (IPs) have worked hard behind the scenes to keep healthcare workers and patients safe from COVID-19 and HAIs. Therefore, a platform is now available for IPs to share their COVID-19 stories. IPs —tell the world your experience here!

Take Action

There are many ways you can get involved to support IIPW. Help us raise awareness on the important role IPs play in protecting public health. Use social media, websites, newsletters and other platforms to celebrate the hardworking infection preventionists (IPs).

Infographic posters, merchandise, web buttons, logos and much more, are all available on the APIC website. You can also join @APIC for a Twitter chat on October 19th at 12 PM ET. Here you can discuss the essential role that infection preventionists (IPs) play in protecting public health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Use the hashtag #IIPWChat to join the conversation. Also, make sure to visit the Infection Prevention and You web page for their promotional toolkit.

I’d like to ask you to join us in encouraging everybody—healthcare personnel, patients, and families—to celebrate our IPs and the infection prevention and control community for their bravery and expertise in the fight against COVID-19.

Here’s how you can help your facility recognize IPs during IIPW:

Highlight IIPW in the [Facility Name/ Newsletter Title] newsletter
Browse “Infection Prevention Updates” for pre-written infection prevention articles. You can then repurpose and distribute to staff and the public throughout the year
Share APIC’s COVID-19 factsheets with patients and families for information on how to prevent spread of COVID-19
Promote #IIPW on social media and participate in the IIPW Twitter Chat (#IIPWChat)
Plan an event, take photos, and include a write-up in you facility’s newsletter or magazine
Sample copy for newsletter articles, social media posts, and activities are available in the IIPW Toolkit and on the APIC website.

About APIC & IIPW

Above all, APIC’s mission is to create a safer world through prevention of infection. IIPW is part of the Infection Prevention and You campaign ran by APIC. It helps patients, families, and healthcare professionals better understand their role in preventing infections. Preventing infection is their number one goal, whether care is delivered in a hospital, an outpatient clinic, or long-term care facility. Therefore, everyone plays an important role in influencing a patient’s health.

Thank you for supporting IPs and patient safety during this year’s IIPW.