International Infection Prevention Week

With the hope of educating the public as well as acting as a reminder to those working in the medical sector, International Infection Prevention Week is here to shine a light on the necessity of active prevention of the spread of illnesses and infections!

History of International Infection Prevention Week

The origins of International Infection Prevention Week (IPW) can be traced back four decades to when it was established by the proclamation of President Ronald Reagan in 1986.

This practical event is meant to focus on the simple and quick preventative measures that can make a huge difference in the health of an individual, a family, a school, and even an entire community!

As time has passed, this event has spread to other countries of the world, sometimes referred to with the rhyming name, Infection Protection Week or Infection Control Week.

Today, the event is celebrated in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and so many others.

Each year, the organizers of International Infection Prevention Week bring forth a specific theme that helps to bring focus to the celebrations. Some of the themes in past years have included:

• Celebrating the FUNdamentals of Infection Prevention (2023)
• The Future is Infection Prevention (2022)
• Make Your Intention Infection Prevention (2022)
• Vaccines are Everybody’s Business (2019)

How to Celebrate International Infection Prevention Week

Schools, healthcare facilities, government agencies, and others are all invited to observe International Infection Prevention Week in a variety of ways, including some of these:

Learn the Basics of Infection Prevention

While it might be assumed that everyone already knows how to practice good infection prevention standards, it never hurts to get a reminder!

Plus, as new generations of children grow up into adults, they need to be encouraged in their practices of preventing infections. Check out some of these basics that help to reduce the spread of illness and disease:

• Practice regular handwashing
• Get vaccinated as recommended by health professionals
• Only take antibiotics only when needed and take them exactly as prescribed
• Watch for signs of infection and health complications during visits to hospitals or nursing homes

Host Or Attend Infection Prevention Events

From handwashing training for little ones in schools to educational seminars about injections in medical centers, Infection Prevention Week is a great time to spread the word and educate people.

For those who are interested in learning more, consider attending in-person seminars or online webinars that promote proactive, intentional steps to protect the community against infectious diseases.

Check out Infection Prevention Resources

Get more informed and access lots of different resources in honor of International Infection Prevention Week.

Many different trustworthy agencies and organizations offer online toolkits, resources, and training. Some sources for this information include the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and various educational websites such as Harvard Health.

Other Days of the Year events that mark celebrations related to this one include National Temperature Check Week later in October, National Handwashing Awareness Week in early December, and National Wash Your Nose Week in March.