Virginia Infection Prevention & Control Training Alliance (VIPTA)
VIPTA is a statewide infection prevention and control education collaborative, led by the Virginia Healthcare-Associated Infections Advisory Group.Through partnership, VIPTAcurates IPC resources for Virginia’s healthcare, congregate care, and public health settings.
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.
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!
VIPTA members track guidance and regulation resources to share source documents that guide infection prevention and control practices for public health staff and clinical and non-clinical healthcare personnel.
The date of the regulation or guidance update is included in each post. Please check linked content to be sure it is the most up to date and recommended practice.
Recent updates to the Monkeypox Playbook include the CDC’s Traveler Health Notice advising enhanced precautions and an updated Risk/Triage Scale recommending increased awareness. Additional information covers the current global situation of monkeypox and the latest outbreak reports.
Acute Care Rehabilitation or Long-Term Care Acute Hospital (LTACH)
Assisted Living Facility (ALF)
Hospice and Palliative Care
Nursing Home / Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)
The guidance offers recommendations for infection prevention and control (IPC) in nursing homes to address challenges including medical acuity and the rise of multidrug-resistant organisms. It emphasizes the importance of IPC leadership, training, and adherence to precautions while also considering the balance between maintaining a home-like environment and ensuring effective infection prevention measures.
Acute Care Rehabilitation or Long-Term Care Acute Hospital (LTACH)
Assisted Living Facility (ALF)
Hospice and Palliative Care
Nursing Home / Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)
Cleaning and Disinfection
Employee/Occupational Health
Hand Hygiene
High Level Disinfection
Outbreak Investigation
Physical Environment / Environment of Care (EOC)
This guidance document updates the 2008 SHEA/Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) guideline: Infection Prevention and Control in the Long-Term Care Facility and is intended to assist nursing homes in the United States in defining and implementing their infection prevention and control (IPC) programs and practices. Recommendations and implementation suggestions address IPC leadership, staffing, and resources, healthcare personnel and residents‘ adherence to precautions and effective hand hygiene, outbreak preparedness, training, occupational health, cleaning and disinfection in the care environment, and the involvement of IPC in the facility.
This clinician letter outlines updates to immunization schedules for MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella) and COVID-19 vaccines, emphasizing their essential role in community health and safety in Virginia. It discusses the new guidelines, including the separate administration of the MMR and varicella vaccines for children under 4 years, the COVID-19 vaccine's availability for individuals aged 6 months and older, and the importance of verifying insurance coverage prior to vaccination.
This letter provides important updates about the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine. The State Health Commissioner issued a Statewide Standing Order authorizing pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to adults consistent with FDA indication.
This month in Cheers for Peers, we would like to spotlight a few of the 2024 board members of the Virginia chapter of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC Virginia).
MAI JATTA, APIC Virginia President
Facility: Carilion Clinic
Why did you get into infection prevention? As someone who contemplated going into public health but ultimately decided to go into nursing, the role of the infection preventionist perfectly combined my interests. The IP role has allowed me to use my nursing skills and knowledge while also acquiring and applying public health principles to promote and advance patient safety.
What do you love about being part of APIC? APIC provides resources and a wide network of support for IPs. Through APIC, I have met and learned from a wide variety of experts in the field. I am most grateful for the relationships I have been able to establish and build, gaining mentors and colleagues in the field. Having resources and a network of support is pivotal to success in infection prevention efforts.
Fun fact about yourself! I am a subtle food connoisseur.
MARKO PREDIC, APIC Virginia Membership Secretary
Facility HCA Capital Division – Corporate
Why did you get into infection prevention? The ability to make the greatest impact for a wide range of patients.
What do you love about being part of APIC? APIC is a great opportunity to network with like-minded individuals who are working towards a common goal- improving patient outcomes. We share in our successes and failures and celebrate ingenuity.
Fun fact about yourself! I was a college rower for 4 years at the University of Florida.
CINDY TAYLOR, APIC Virginia 1st Year Director
Facility: UVA Health (acute care hospital, more than 100 outpatient clinics)
Why did you get into infection prevention? By default, like most of us. The job needed doing and I was assigned the work.
What do you love about being part of APIC? Networking with members, assisting each other with problem solving or just sharing IP stories.
Fun fact about yourself! I once traveled to NYC on a private jet! We were met at the airport by a limousine and escorted for a day of Christmas shopping at Manhattan’s finest stores, including Tiffany’s!
CHARMAYNE FLOWERS, APIC Virginia Recording Secretary
Facility: Hampton VA Medical Center
Why did you get into infection prevention? I’ve always been fascinated by diseases and the different types of organisms and wanted to learn what I could do to protect my patients and community.
What do you love about being part of APIC? I got to become a part of another family who supports and nurtures each other in our profession.
Fun fact about yourself! Although I don’t have much time for it nowadays, I love to dance.
EBONI CRAWFORD, APIC Virginia Treasurer
Facility: Chesapeake Regional Medical Center
Why did you get into infection prevention? Learned of the profession during my time with the Florida Department of Health and fell in love!
What do you love about being part of APIC? I love being part of such a supportive team – both professionally and personally.
Fun fact about yourself! I love all things stickers and creative journaling/planning!
Search the VIPTA library of curated infection prevention and control (IPC) education and training resources. The IPC Education & Training Resource Library includes state and national resources related to healthcare-associated infections, antimicrobial resistance and/or IPC. Visit the VIPTA FAQ page to learn more about VIPTA library content.
