Healthcare organizations increasingly need infection prevention expertise represented in strategic conversations.

The most effective IPs are able to communicate that HAI are not only patient safety events, they are operational disruptions, financial liabilities, throughput challenges, and reputational risks. Infection prevention programs help organizations improve quality outcomes, maintain regulatory compliance, support data-driven decision-making, and protect both patients and healthcare workers.

A recent IP&MA study in the inpatient rehabilitation setting highlights a challenge that many healthcare organizations face: balancing the need to prevent infection transmission with the need to maximize patient outcomes. Infection prevention measures are essential, but they should also support the broader goals of patient care whenever possible.

CLABSIs are among the most costly healthcare-associated infections in the United States, contributing significantly to preventable healthcare spending and avoidable patient harm. Every HAI case is not just a clinical event, but also has a measurable and preventable financial impact.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly finding its way into healthcare workflows, and infection prevention is no exception. As large language models such as ChatGPT become increasingly accessible, many IPs are asking an important question: Can these tools help support healthcare-associated infection (HAI) surveillance?

Case-based learning helps infection preventionists build confidence while improving consistency and reliability in HAI surveillance activities.

Infection prevention programs play a vital role in protecting patient health. Our infection preventionists collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across the continuum of care to implement targeted interventions and create meaningful change in how care is provided.  IP&MA infection preventionists are driving measurable improvements in acute care, behavioral health, and inpatient rehabilitation settings. Here’s how some of their efforts are making a difference.

Austin area IP&MA infection preventionists gather for International Infection Prevention Week.

Healthcare acquired infection (HAI) surveillance is a foundational element in infection prevention practice and is typically the most time consuming task in an infection preventionists work day.

Several studies have examined the accuracy and consistency among infection preventionists in applying NHSN definitions. The largest study found that participants incorrectly coded infections more than 1/3 of test cases.

IP&MA infection preventionists are sharing their work this week on an international stage at the APIC 2025 Annual Conference in Phoenix. The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology conference is an annual meeting where infection preventionists and IP researchers share and discuss research findings in the fields of infection prevention and control and healthcare epidemiology, and exchange ideas and insights that can help improve patient safety and healthcare outcomes. See what we are sharing with the infection prevention community.