Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology

1400 Crystal Drive, Suite 900, Arlington, VA 22202

Toolkit and Resources for APIC Partners

IIPW 2018 Member Toolkit 1

Dear Colleagues:

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 in 25 hospitalized

patients get healthcare-associated infections each year in the United States. Not only does this

cost the healthcare system billions in excess costs, but it also results in the deaths of 75,000

patients each year.

Preventing infection is our number one goal, whether care is delivered in a hospital, an

outpatient clinic, or long-term care facility. Patients, families, and healthcare personnel all play

an important role in influencing a patient’s health

Thank you for supporting 2018 International Infection Prevention Week. IIPW, part of the

Infection Prevention and You campaign, helps patients, families, and healthcare professionals

better understand their role in preventing infections. APIC is planning exciting activities and

creating resources around this year’s IIPW theme: Protecting Patients Everywhere.

This document includes everything you need to advocate and promote IIPW. Additionally, the

Infection Prevention and You website has the tools and materials to give infection prevention

special recognition about why infection prevention matters. Explore these resources and

incorporate them into your IIPW celebration and activities.

By joining your friends, healthcare colleagues, and facilities in celebrating IIPW, you are raising

awareness of the role infection prevention plays to improve patient safety.

Thank you again for preventing infections this week and all year long!

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Garman, CAE

Vice President, Communications and Practice Resources

Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology

www.apic.org/infectionpreventionandyou

IIPW, October 14-20, 2018

IIPW 2018 Member Toolkit 2

The 2018 theme for International Infection Prevention Week is Protecting Patients Everywhere. Patient safety is a clear priority for infection preventionists (IPs) and healthcare professionals.

Social Media

What better way is there to spread information about germs than going viral? Follow APIC on

Facebook and Twitter and share our posts with your followers. APIC has developed tweets and

posts for you and your facilities to easily share on social media.

Twitter Chat

On Tuesday, October 16 at 12 PM ET, APIC will host a Twitter chat to discuss how healthcare

providers, patients, and others can prevent infections throughout the continuum of care.

Follow @APIC on Twitter and use the hashtag (#IIPWChat) to join.

Newsletter Copy

APIC has created sample newsletter copy as well as a press release. Feel free to share for use

in internal and external news channels.

Elevate the Role of the IP

Share the following materials to help raise the profile of the IP, letting your colleagues learn the importance of the IP and IPC in healthcare.

Infographics and Posters

APIC developed a new infographic poster for IPs to share with their facilities to help educate

healthcare professionals and others on how to stop the spread of infection. Download the

Protect Your Patients infographic today. All APIC infographics are print-ready and free.

Games and Activities

Are you looking for online resources to help engage people about infection prevention? APIC

has games and activities that are perfect all ages and infection prevention skill levels!

Polls and Quizzes

Test your infection prevention knowledge by taking our quizzes and polls! Post your germy

results on your social media pages and challenge your networks to beat your scores!

Infection Prevention Pledges

Pledge to prevent infections and protect patients! APIC has two pledges (for healthcare

professionals and for patients and families); both are available in English and Spanish.

Infection Prevention Videos

Watch and share these infection prevention videos. You’ll see videos promoting infection

prevention best practices that will make you laugh, cry, reflect, strategize, and tap your feet!

Stay in the infection prevention loop: Connect with APIC on Twitter and Facebook.

Social Media Posts to Share

IIPW 2018 Member Toolkit 3

APIC has prepared sample Facebook and Twitter posts that you can use at any time leading up to or during IIPW (October 14-20, 2018). We also encourage you to create your own posts. You can also share APIC’s Facebook posts and retweet APIC’s tweets during this week. All you need to do is copy, paste, and post!

Follow @APIC on Twitter Like APIC on Facebook. Direct your followers to www.apic.org/InfectionPreventionandYou.

Facebook Posts

International Infection Prevention Week (#IIPW), October 14-20, celebrates the importance of infection prevention and patient safety. Raise your voice and spread the word that everyone plays a role in #infectionprevention. www.apic.org/InfectionPreventionandYou

Learn more on how to protect patients everywhere during International Infection Prevention Week (#IIPW) October 14-20. Follow @APIC on Facebook for the most up-to-date information: www.facebook.com/APICInfectionPreventionandYou

Join APIC for an #IIPW Twitter chat on Tuesday, October 16 at 12 PM ET to discuss the important roles that patients, families and healthcare professionals play in infection prevention and patient safety. Use the hashtag #IIPWChat to join the conversation.

According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 25 hospitalized patients will contract a healthcare-associated infection (HAI), and about 75,000 of those patients will die. Learn how to prevent infections and stay safe in healthcare settings: www.apic.org/InfectionPreventionandYou

Infection prevention is everybody’s responsibility. Each of us—patients, families, and healthcare personnel—has an important role to play in keeping patients safe from infection. Learn more during #IIPW: www.apic.org/InfectionPreventionandYou

APIC developed a new infographic poster to help educate healthcare professionals and others on how to stop the spread of infection. Download all of @APIC’s free #infectionprevention resources. http://professionals.site.apic.org/infographic/ #IIPW

Do you know how to stay safe from infections while in healthcare facilities? Be an empowered patient. Learn the #infectionprevention basics during International Infection Prevention Week, October 14-20 and use them all year long: www.apic.org/infectionpreventionbasics

APIC has polls and quizzes available to test your #infectionprevention knowledge. Challenge your friends and colleagues to a battle of the germy wits. #IIPW http://professionals.site.apic.org/get-social/polls-and-quizzes/

Clean hands stop germs! Together, we can help make it easier for patients and care givers to talk about hand hygiene and infection prevention. Download, use, share, and have fun with these during International Infection Prevention Week, October 14-20 and beyond! #IIPW www.apic.org/cleanhandsstopgerms

Do you know the ABCs of antibiotics? @APIC has infographics for both patients and healthcare professionals. Learn when it is appropriate to need/prescribe #antibiotics. www.apic.org/ABCs-of-Antibiotics #saveABX #IIPW

Do you know the value of #infectionprevention? Learn the importance of preventing these infections. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43WV-vYza8c&feature=youtu.be @APIC #IIPW

Social Media Posts to Share

IIPW 2018 Member Toolkit 4

Twitter Posts Please use the hashtag #IIPW in your tweets.

#Infectionprevention starts with you, but it takes a team to protect patients. Learn more with @APIC during #IIPW October 14-20 www.apic.org/InfectionPreventionandYou

International Infection Prevention Week (#IIPW), October 14-20, celebrates the importance of infection prevention and patient safety. Raise your voice and spread the word that everyone plays a role in #infectionprevention. www.apic.org/InfectionPreventionandYou

Learn more on how to protect patients everywhere during International Infection Prevention Week (#IIPW) October 14-20. Follow @APIC on Twitter and Facebook for the most up-to-date information: www.facebook.com/APICInfectionPreventionandYou

According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 25 hospitalized patients will contract a healthcare-associated infection (HAI), and about 75,000 of those patients will die. Learn how to prevent infections and stay safe in healthcare settings: www.apic.org/InfectionPreventionandYou

Show your support for #infectionprevention by participating in #IIPW this year (October 14-20)! www.apic.org/InfectionPreventionandYou

#Infectionprevention is everybody’s responsibility. Each of us—patients, families, and healthcare personnel—has an important role to play in keeping patients safe from infection. Learn more: www.apic.org/IIPW #IIPW

Keeping patients safe from infection is everyone’s responsibility. From nurses to doctors, environmental services to the OR, everyone needs to know the top ways to prevent infections. Learn how healthcare professionals can protect patients everywhere: www.apic.org/protectyourpatients #IIPW

Learn how to healthcare professionals can protect patients everywhere—in clinics, hospitals, at home, or where ever care is received. Download the free Protect Your Patients infographic poster today: www.apic.org/protectyourpatients #IIPW

What role can patients play in #infectionprevention? Learn more during #IIPW October 14-20 www.apic.org/InfectionPreventionandYou

Patients are essential members of the healthcare team. Learn more during #IIPW #infectionprevention October 14-20 www.apic.org/InfectionPreventionandYou

Healthcare Professionals: Learn the top ways to protect patients with this new infographic from @APIC: www.apic.org/protectyourpatients #IIPW

Patients: Learn #infectionprevention basics and stay infection free in healthcare settings. www.apic.org/infectionpreventionbasics #IIPW

Flex your #infectionprevention muscles with these quizzes. #IIPW http://professionals.site.apic.org/get-social/polls-and-quizzes/

Pledge your support for #infectionprevention and #patientsafety. Sign the pledge! #IIPW @APIC www.apic.org/infectionpreventionpledge

Do you know the value of #infectionprevention? Learn the importance of preventing these infections. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43WV-vYza8c&feature=youtu.be @APIC #IIPW

Social Media Posts to Share

IIPW 2018 Member Toolkit 5

Twitter Chat Posts Please use the following tweets to promote the Twitter chat

Join the #IIPWChat on Tuesday, October 16 at 12 PM ET to discuss #patientsafety and #infectionprevention basics. #IIPW

What can healthcare professionals, patients, and families do to prevent the spread of germs? Join the #IIPWChat with @APIC, 10/16 at 12 PM ET to learn more.

Join APIC for an #IIPW Twitter chat on Tuesday, October 16 at 12 PM ET to discuss the important roles that patients, families and healthcare professionals play in infection prevention and patient safety. Use the hashtag #IIPWChat to join the conversation.

Making #infectionprevention a top priority allows for the spread of information not germs. Join @APIC for the #IIPWChat on October 16 at 12 PM ET and have your voice heard.

Images for Tweets and Posts Please feel free to use these images with your tweets and posts.

Raising the Profile of the Infection Preventionist

IIPW 2018 Member Toolkit 6

While infection prevention and control (IPC) is the job of an infection preventionist (IP), many inside the facility may not be aware of how IPs protect not only patients, but also the facility’s reputation and financial bottom line. APIC has materials to educate others about the IP’s role. Share the following materials to help raise the profile of the IP, letting your colleagues learn the importance of the IP and IPC in healthcare. Download and share the “Who are Infection Preventionists?” infographic. Download and share the “Who are Infection Preventionists?” consumer alert. Watch and share the “Infection Preventionists Save Lives” IP recruitment video. Watch and share the “Value of Infection Prevention” video.

Newsletter Copy

IIPW 2018 Member Toolkit 7

International Infection Prevention Week is October 14-20

Organized by APIC, this year International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) will focus on

protecting patients everywhere. Visit the IIPW website for free patient safety infographics, social

media posts, and more. Learn more.

Join APIC’s patient safety Twitter chat on October 16

Join @APIC for a Twitter chat on October 16 at 12 PM ET to discuss the important roles that

patients, families, and healthcare professionals play in infection prevention and patient safety.

Use the hashtag #IIPWChat to join the conversation. Learn more.

International Infection Prevention Week is October 14-20

This year, International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) is raising awareness about the

important role we all play in preventing the spread of infection and promoting patient safety.

Join us in thanking our Infection Prevention Team at [Facility Name] for all they do to keep

patients safe by protecting them from infection. Infection preventionists (IPs) are our facility’s

infection detectives, finding germs and ensuring healthcare personnel are doing their part to

improve patient safety and care.

Let us all take the first step in helping IPs stop the spread of germs by practicing proper hand

hygiene. After all: infection prevention is everybody’s business! Learn more.

The IIPW 2018 theme is protecting patients everywhere

The theme for this year’s observance of International Infection Prevention Week, October 14-20,

is Protecting Patients Everywhere. The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and

Epidemiology (APIC) spearheads the commemoration of IIPW each year and has developed a

new infographic to help educate healthcare professionals and others on how to stop the spread

of infection. Download the free Protect Your Patients infographic today.

International Infection Prevention Week is October 14-20

This year, International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) is raising awareness of the important

role we all play in preventing the spread of infection. Whether you are in a healthcare facility or

in the community, there are steps that healthcare professionals, patients and families can take

to stay safe from infection.

Become part of the infection prevention team by:

• Washing your hands and asking healthcare workers and visitors to do the same

• Sneezing and coughing into your elbow, not your hand

• Taking medications as directed

To learn more, visit the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology’s

(APIC), website.

Newsletter Copy

IIPW 2018 Member Toolkit 8

[NAME OF ORGANIZATION] partners with APIC to celebrate International

Infection Prevention Week

In recognition of the important role consumers and healthcare providers both play in infection

prevention, [NAME OF ORGANIZATION] has partnered with The Association for Professionals

in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) to promote International Infection Prevention

Week (IIPW), October 14-20.

To celebrate IIPW and this year’s theme of Protecting Patients Everywhere, APIC has

expanded the resources for both patients and healthcare professionals found on the Infection

Prevention and You website (www.apic.org/infectionpreventionandyou). APIC has developed a

new infographic to help remind healthcare professionals how to stop the spread of infection.

Download the free Protect Your Patients infographic today.

On Tuesday, October 16 at 12 PM ET, APIC will host a Twitter chat, which will to discuss

protecting patients everywhere, and how everyone can work together to defend our patients,

friends, and family from infection. To participate, follow the hashtag #IIPWChat.

[NAME OF ORGANIZATION]’s members are encouraged to visit the Infection Prevention and

You website, and download and share the free infographics. Additionally, APIC has developed

pre-written social media posts.

Established in 1986, IIPW is celebrated the third week of October. APIC spearheads the annual

effort to highlight the importance of infection prevention among healthcare professionals,

administrators, legislators, and consumers. It is now formally recognized in many areas around

the world including the U.S., Australia, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Asia. As IIPW

expands, more patients benefit from safer healthcare practices and reduced threat of

healthcare-associated infections. Learn more about IIPW on Facebook and Twitter (#IIPW).

# # #

Press Release Copy

IIPW 2018 Member Toolkit 9

Contact: [INSERT LOCAL CONTACT]

[INSERT PHONE NUMBER]

[INSERT EMAIL ADDRESS]

[INSERT ORGANIZATION NAME] supports International Infection Prevention Week

[INSERT CITY], October [INSERT DATE], 2018 – To highlight the importance of infection

prevention and raise awareness of everyone’s role in protecting the public, [NAME OF

ORGANIZATION] is supporting International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW), October 14-20.

“We want to engage our community around this important topic and therefore will be hosting

several events to outline the ways in which patients, families, and healthcare providers can all

work together to keep patients safe,” said [ORGANIZATIONAL SPOKESPERSON]. “It takes a

team to truly protect patients everywhere, and we need everyone’s help.”

The 2018 IIPW theme is Protecting Patients Everywhere. Healthcare professionals from all

settings and levels play an important role in protecting patients. APIC has provided free

downloadable resources and activities for patients and families, as well as, fact sheets on

infection prevention basics, settings of care, and more. The Infection Prevention and You

website is accessible here: www.apic.org/infectionpreventionandyou.

New this year, APIC has developed a new infographic to help remind healthcare professionals

and others how to stop the spread of infection. Download the free Protect Your Patients

infographic today.

“Keeping patients safe from infection is everyone’s responsibility. From nurses to doctors,

environmental services to the OR, everyone needs to know the top ways to prevent infections,”

said [ORGANIZATIONAL SPOKESPERSON].

Local IIPW activities that are planned include: [INSERT SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES AND

DETAILS].

Established in 1986, IIPW is celebrated the third week of October. APIC spearheads the annual

effort to highlight the importance of infection prevention among healthcare professionals,

administrators, legislators, and consumers. It is now formally recognized in many areas around

the world including the U.S., Australia, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Asia. As IIPW

expands, more patients benefit from safer healthcare practices and reduced threat of

healthcare-associated infections.

Learn more about IIPW on Facebook and Twitter (#IIPW).

# # #

[INSERT ORGANIZATION OR

HEALTHCARE FACILITY LOGO HERE]

About

IIPW 2018 Member Toolkit 10

IIPW takes place the third week of October each year and raises awareness of the role

infection prevention plays to improve patient safety.

Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology

APIC’s mission is to create a safer world through prevention of infection. The association’s more

than 15,000 members direct infection prevention programs that save lives and improve the

bottom line for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. APIC advances its mission through

patient safety, implementation science, competencies and certification, advocacy, and data

standardization. Visit APIC online at apic.org. Follow APIC on Twitter: twitter.com/apic and

Facebook: facebook.com/APICInfectionPreventionandYou. For information on what patients

and families can do, visit APIC’s Infection Prevention and You website at

http://www.apic.org/InfectionPreventionandYou.

Infection Prevention and You

Infection Prevention and You is APIC’s multiyear awareness campaign that features resources

for both consumers and healthcare professionals. Materials are designed to clearly and simply

convey important infection prevention information. Infection Prevention and You has print-ready

materials for hospitals, home care, long-term care, and outpatient care settings to explain the

role infection preventionists play in patient safety and educate the consumer about how to stay

infection free while receiving care.

History of International Infection Prevention Week

IIPW, part of the Infection Prevention and You campaign, helps patients, families, and

healthcare professionals better understand their role in preventing infections. Established in

1986 by President Ronald Reagan, APIC has spearheaded the annual effort to highlight the

importance of infection prevention among healthcare professionals, administrators, legislators,

and consumers. Over the years, this week of recognition has vastly expanded to every corner of

the globe, including Australia, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. As the

reach of IIPW widens, more patients benefit from safer healthcare practices and reduced threat

of healthcare-associated infections.

Protecting Patients Everywhere

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 in 25 hospitalized

patients get healthcare-associated infections each year in the United States. Not only does this

cost the healthcare system billions in excess costs, but it also results in the deaths of 75,000

patients each year.

Preventing infection is our number one goal, whether care is delivered in a hospital, an

outpatient clinic, or long-term care facility. Patients, families, and healthcare personnel all play

an important role in influencing a patient’s health.