International Infection Prevention Week Puts Spotlight on Antibiotic Resistance

International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) 2017 is underway, and this year's theme is antibiotic resistance.

With such a theme, IIPW represents an opportunity for healthcare providers to evaluate their efforts in developing an antimicrobial stewardship program.

IIPW, which takes place October 15-21, is also a week designed to further stress the importance of an infection prevention program that promotes patient and staff safety.

IIPW was established in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan.

For more information on IIPW and to access IIPW promotional tools and resources, visit the APIC website.

In conjunction with IIPW, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched new Get Ahead of Sepsis materials help healthcare professionals and patients prevent infections that can lead to sepsis. These materials are as follows:

• Healthcare professional poster: "Protect Your Patients from Sepsis"
• Healthcare professional poster: "Be Alert. Suspect Sepsis. Save Lives."
• Patient poster: "Protect Yourself and Your Family from Sepsis"
• Patient infographic: "Four Ways to Get Ahead of Sepsis"

Sepsis is the body's extreme response to an infection, including those caused by drug-resistant bacteria.