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Embracing the Future of Infection Prevention: Introducing the APIC Research Network

In an era where innovative healthcare solutions are increasingly in demand, frontline Infection Preventionists (IPs) are being thrust into the spotlight. Traditionally, these healthcare experts have performed critical roles behind the scenes but are now stepping forward into the realm of research. Aiming to facilitate this transition and shape the future of infection prevention methodologies,…

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APIC Expresses Concern over Recent CDC Staff Reductions and Impact on Infection Prevention

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is sounding the alarm about recent reductions in workforce implemented at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This includes the dismissal of members belonging to the Global Health Center, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, and the Epidemic Intelligence Service, entities that…

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Leading Infection Preventionist Cindy Prins: Advancing the Field and Mentoring the Next Generation

Cindy Prins, an esteemed associate professor of medicine at the University of Central Florida (UCF), is doing remarkable work to enhance the field of Infection Prevention. Not only through her personal research focused on nursing homes, but also through her mentorship of medical students, she is a stalwart proponent of securing safer healthcare spaces. Prins has…

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Pleading for Prioritization of Infection Prevention in Current Healthcare Climate

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and The Leapfrog Group, renowned entities in the realm of healthcare safety and quality, categorically state that currently, any potential reduction in the emphasis of infection prevention and control (IPC) and patient safety is grossly ill-timed. The contemporary healthcare scene, characterized by unnecessary patient harm, rising…

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End of Federal Advisory Committee: What it Means for Infection Prevention and Control Professionals

In a recent development that carried heavy implications for the healthcare industry, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) disbanded the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). The onus of this decision, according to Andrew Nixon, communications director for the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), roots back to a directive…

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Repercussions of Proposed Cuts on Infection Prevention Services at Veterans Administration

Significant unrest has been incited amongst the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) regarding the proposed cutbacks to contracts by the Veterans Administration (VA). These contracts are principal to essential infection prevention services, including the disinfection and sterilization of medical apparatus, proper calibration of pharmaceutical products, and air quality inspection. The services…

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APIC’s Call for Legislative Intervention: The Necessity to Halt the Resurgence of Measles in the U.S

The recent measles-linked fatality in Texas has sparked renewed apprehension regarding the critical outcome of plummeting vaccination rates and misinformation proliferation. Once considered eradicated from the United States' epidemiological landscape, measles is witnessing a disturbing rebound, with over 150 reported cases escalating rapidly. A public health crisis of this magnitude is not unforeseen but rather…

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Call to Action: Urgent Need for Reinstatement of Laid-Off Epidemic Intelligence Service Officers

On February 17, 2025, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) issued a strong demand for the reinstatement of Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officers who were recently laid off at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This policy decision, implemented by the Trump administration, underestimates the vital importance of these…

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Reforming Infection Control Education: A Global Initiative Led by APIC

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) has made significant strides in streamlining the education of future Infection Prevention professionals. Taking a global view, APIC has rolled out the Curriculum Guidelines for Undergraduate, Certificate, and Graduate Degrees in Infection Prevention and Control. The primary aim of this initiative is to assist educational…

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Online Calculator Aims to Optimize Infection Control Staffing in Hospitals to Minimize Healthcare-Associated Infections

A deficit in adequate staffing for infection prevention can escalate the rates of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), reveals a research study examining an online calculator tool purposed to assist healthcare facilities to meet staffing requirements. The research highlights that the majority of the studied acute-care hospitals were inadequately staffed, leading to an elevated risk for HAIs including central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), Clostridioides difficile infections, and colon surgical site infections (SSIs). An innovative creation, this online calculator is a unique resource to assist healthcare institutions in advocating for ample resources crucial to ensuring the safety of both patients and healthcare providers, states Dr. Rebecca Bartles, the Executive Director of the Center for Research, Practice and Innovation at the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Prevention (APIC). Prior studies back the notion that a rise in numbers of infection preventionists at healthcare facilities substantially diminishes HAI rates. The online calculator, tried and tested by Bartles and her team, is an APIC initiated pilot project offering balance to healthcare facilities between optimal staffing ratios and diverse factors like complexity of services or specialist units, in order to ascertain the ideal infection prevention team size. APIC indicates that this calculator strives to alleviate the limitations of using merely a clinician to bed ratio in defining staffing requirement, by factoring in additional complexities. A total of 390 acute-care hospitals were a part of the study, and their data from the staffing calculator was analyzed. The study revealed that while the staffing ratio at few facilities was as per expectations, a large percentage were below the expected staffing level. The research strongly emphasizes the correlation between well-staffed hospitals and standardized infection ratios (SIRs).

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