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: 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: 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: 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: Essential IPC Education Level
Celebrating Sue Moeslein’s Dedication to Mentorship
Susan (Sue) Moeslein is not just a leader in infection prevention, she’s a mentor shaping the next generation of professionals. With over 40 years in healthcare and 17 years as an infection preventionist (IP), Sue has been a steadfast advocate for patient safety and quality of care. With a diverse background spanning various healthcare settings and roles including infection prevention and care management, Sue has brought her wealth of experience to Health Quality Innovators (HQI).
Sue is passionate about mentoring the next generation of IPs. As co-chair of the APIC-Virginia/VDH IP Mentorship Program, she has been instrumental in the program’s success. Recognizing the challenges faced by early-career IPs, Sue played a key role in developing this structured, low-burden mentorship program. By pairing experienced IPs with newcomers, the program fosters professional growth, enhances knowledge sharing, and standardizes best practices across the field. Sue’s dedication helped create a scalable model that supports both mentors and mentees while reducing the workload on seasoned professionals.
Thanks to her efforts, the mentorship program has seen high engagement, strong retention rates, and overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants. With structured learning modules, interactive discussions, and continuing education credits, mentees gain the skills and confidence needed to excel in infection prevention.
Sue’s passion for mentorship embodies the spirit of collaboration and leadership. Her work ensures that infection prevention professionals across Virginia are supported, empowered, and prepared for success.
Fun Facts About Sue
- Celebrating her 43rd wedding anniversary this year
- Has 3 grandchildren
- Registered nurse for 42 years
- In her spare time, she loves to quilt (and is very good at it)
