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 Virginiaâs healthcare, congregate care, and public health settings.
đLet’s Throw an Infection Prevention Party!
International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) is October 19â25 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. Itâs 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: âYou won a Cheers for Peers award!â
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 donât forget to share your celebrations with VIPTA, weâd love to cheer alongside you!
Target Audience:Â Essential IPC Education Level
Virginia APIC Members Share Their Work at the APIC National Conference!
The 2026 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) National Conference was held June 15â17 in Nashville, TN, offering infection preventionists a valuable opportunity to learn, collaborate, and showcase their work. With about 400 submissions received, selection to present is a notable achievement. This year, several APIC Virginia Chapter members were featured.
Congratulations to the following presenters!
âDana Chapman (Sentara Leigh Hospital) and Ginger Vanhoozer (VDH) presented âReciprocal Mentorship That Fits: Education-Rich, Time-Smart, and Built for Collaborationâ, discussing APIC Virginia & VDHâs novel mentorship program.
âMai Jatta (Carilion Clinic) discussed Carilionâs systemwide approach to implementing a water and steam testing program in alignment with ANSI/AAMI ST108 in âSystemwide Implementation of Water and Steam Quality for Medical Device Reprocessingâ.
âCarolyn Kiefer and Andrea Chapman (VDH) presented âFrom Airways to Outbreaks: A Stateâs Journey Strengthening Respiratory Care Assessmentsâ. They discussed the importance of incorporating respiratory care assessments into outbreak investigations with pathogens such as Candida auris, Group A Streptococcus, and other multidrug-resistant organisms, and how to implement them in the field.
âKrysta Luzynski (VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital) discussed âPublic Health in Practice: Leveraging Public Health 3.0 to Strengthen Infection Prevention in a Small, Rural Hospitalâ. This presentation focused on using the Public Health 3.0 framework to strengthen infection prevention programs, and how a âchief health strategistâ role can facilitate collaboration and empower teams.
âSamuel Ntow (Carilion Clinic) presented âHospital-Onset Sepsis: Characterizing a Hitherto Underrecognized HAI Burden Using Five Years of Surveillance Data at an Academic Medical Centerâ which discussed the underreporting of hospital onset sepsis in an academic medical center. He found that the rates exceeded several currently tracked HAI categories in his facility.
Tools & Tips to Share Your Work
- Local conferences are a great place to begin. Consider submitting a poster at the APIC Virginia Fall Conference (October 15â16):
âŞď¸APIC Virginia provides guidance on what to include plus a free poster template! - Join the APIC Research Network (free for APIC members) to connect with peers and access helpful resources.
- Need help shaping your idea or outlining your poster or presentation? Schedule a free Infection Prevention Boost Session for one-on-one support.
