The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) extends a hearty welcome to the newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Health, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., emphasizing the urgent need to bolster measures aimed at infection prevention. APIC, representing a network of 15,000 dedicated infection preventionists (IPs), vibrant in their commitment to shield patients, healthcare professionals, and institutions from the crippling impact of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), expressed a keen interest in partnering with the Department of Health and Human Services to reinforce national and global initiatives.
HAIs are severe and pervasive threats compromising patient safety. In the unfortunate scenario where one in 31 patients contracts an HAI daily, these infections account for approximately 687,000 incidences and 72,000 fatalities each year. The consequences extend beyond merely causing severe harm, resulting in an economic drain amounting to an estimated $28 billion annually in direct medical expenses and an additional $12 billion in indirect costs and productivity losses.
APIC’s letter elucidates six main priorities requiring immediate attention to combat the HAI menace effectively.
Firstly, robust support for the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), a gold standard in HAI data collection developed through expert input spanning decades. Besides offering a comparative analysis for healthcare facilities to assess their progress towards infection reduction targets, data sharing for necessary CMS quality improvement initiatives and public health officials is also ensured.
Secondly, highlighting the situation in the IPC workforce, APIC’s 2020 survey reveals that 40% of the workforce is estimated to retire in the next ten years, a concerning development.
Thirdly, APIC stresses the importance of supporting the BIO Preparedness Workforce Pilot Program, a part of the PREVENT Pandemics Act.
Further, the critical need to expand IPC reporting and staffing in nursing homes is stressed, having witnessed the disastrous consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on these facilities.
The fifth priority revolves around improving Medical Device Cleaning Instructions, where unclear, confusing, and impractical instructions risk increasing HAIs and administrative burdens.
Finally, APIC underlines the vital role of global health collaboration in strengthening U.S. for potential disease outbreaks.
The APIC stands committed to collaborating with the health department and contributing to U.S. healthcare advancements, infection prevention, and patient safety.