APIC Urges All 50 States to Proclaim International Infection Prevention Week, October 19-25 s1

Contact: [INSERT LOCAL CONTACT] [INSERT PHONE NUMBER] [INSERT EMAIL ADDRESS]

[INSERT APIC CHAPTER OR ORGANIZATION NAME] SUPPORTS INTERNATIONAL INFECTION PREVENTION WEEK EVENTS

[INSERT CITY], October [INSERT DATE], 2013 – To spread the message that everyone plays a role in infection prevention, [NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR APIC CHAPTER] is proud to support International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW), which occurs globally October 20-26.

“International Infection Prevention Week is a good time to celebrate the work that is being done to reduce healthcare-associated infections in our community and to engage consumers in their own care,” says organization spokesperson.

To celebrate IIPW and continue the theme of infection prevention throughout the year, APIC has created the “Infection Prevention and You” campaign with a new website (www.apic.org/infectionpreventionandyou) and resources for both patients and healthcare professionals. The campaign features a one-page infographic illustrating the steps patients can take to support infection prevention efforts in healthcare facilities and help lower their risk of infection. The infographic communicates three main points: what patients and families can do to play an active role in their care; what healthcare- associated infections are, and who the infection preventionist is.

Local IIPW activities that are planned include: [INSERT SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES AND DETAILS]

“We will be educating the community through several special events. Our goal is to increase awareness of everyone’s role in infection prevention practices in and out of healthcare facilities,” said [SPOKESPERSON]. “If you or a loved one is going into the hospital, remember that clean hands are essential to preventing infections. It is okay to ask healthcare providers to clean their hands before touching you. Patients and visitors need to do the same. Infection prevention is everyone’s responsibility.”

IIPW raises awareness of the role infection prevention plays to improve patient safety and promotes the belief that everyone plays a role in infection prevention. Established in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan, APIC has spearheaded the annual effort to highlight the importance of infection prevention among healthcare professionals, administrators, legislators, and consumers. It is now formally recognized in many areas around the world including the U.S., Australia, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. As IIPW expands, more patients benefit from safer healthcare practices and reduced threat of healthcare-associated infections. Learn more about IIPW on Facebook and Twitter (#IIPW and #infectionprevention).