VIPTA is a statewide infection prevention and control education collaborative, led by the Virginia Healthcare-Associated Infections Advisory Group. Through partnership, VIPTA curates IPC resources for Virginia’s healthcare, congregate care, and public health settings.
🎆Let’s Throw an Infection Prevention Party!
International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) is October 19–25 and a great reason to have a party! A simple way to add flare to your celebration is with the brand-new Cheers for Peers certificate. It’s a ready-to-use tool that makes it easy to spotlight the everyday wins that keep patients, residents, and staff safe. You can hand one out during a huddle, post it on a breakroom bulletin board, or make it part of a bigger party.
Free Tools to Bring the Fun:Â The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) makes it easy to host your own celebration. The IIPW toolkit offers:
- Fun graphics and posters to brighten up your space.
- Ready-to-use PowerPoint slides to add flair to your next huddle or staff meeting.
- Promotional videos and infographics that spark conversation.
- Daily themes and games to keep the energy high all week long.
Explore and download resources at:Â Infection Prevention and You.
Party Ideas for Your Team
- Kick off the week by surprising a unit with balloons, snacks, and a quick game.
- Hand out Cheers for Peers certificates to celebrate a champion of healthcare infection prevention, an infection-free milestone, great hand hygiene audits, or a colleague who consistently models best practices.
Puzzle It Out! Want to add an extra layer of fun? Create your own infection prevention puzzles for staff to solve using a free site like Puzzel.org. Imagine sending someone a crossword or jigsaw puzzle that, when solved, reveals: “You won a Cheers for Peers award!”
Why It Matters:Â Celebrating infection prevention wins is more than just fun — it can boost morale and remind your team that every effort counts. As we head into the busy fall respiratory season, a little joy goes a long way in keeping spirits high.
So, gather your balloons, download your graphics, and throw an infection prevention party this IIPW. And don’t forget to share your celebrations with VIPTA, we’d love to cheer alongside you!
Target Audience:Â Essential IPC Education Level
✨Alex Minero Shines at Loudoun’s First SNF Symposium
We are thrilled to celebrate Alexander Minero, the Northern Regional Infection Preventionist working on behalf of the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). In November, Alex participated in Loudoun County’s very first Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Symposium. This inaugural event, held in partnership with Inova Loudoun Hospital, brought together skilled nursing facilities, hospital partners, and public health professionals to build stronger connections and spark meaningful conversations about shared challenges and successes.
Alex brought his signature energy and educator magic to the day, leading two engaging sessions. The first, “Standard Precautions, Contact Precautions, Enhanced Barrier Precautions, Oh My!” invited participants to test their knowledge through interactive techniques that kept everyone on their toes. His second session, “Infection Prevention and Control Assessments and Site Visits,” helped demystify the assessment process and gave facilities confidence to strengthen their infection prevention practices.
When asked about his preparation for the event, Alex shared, “I think prep is definitely key. I reviewed my slides several times and even timed myself. Also prepping for questions helps because you are not caught off guard.” That focus on readiness showed. Participants were learning, laughing, and leaning in the entire time.
What makes Alex shine is his commitment to hands-on learning. Whether he is facilitating a regional training, conducting education in English or Spanish, troubleshooting environment of care problems on a site visit, or supporting a facility with tricky infection prevention questions, he brings positivity, collaboration, and a genuine desire to help teams succeed.
Thank you, Alex, for your enthusiasm, leadership, and dedication to the facilities you serve. Your support helps make our long-term care and healthcare communities stronger, safer, and better connected.
If your facility is interested in partnering with Alex or any of the VDH Regional Infection Preventionists, visit https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/haiar/ip/
Cheers to you, Alex! Keep up the amazing work.
