CBIC Encourages Infection Preventionists to Get Certified

Each year, millions of patients contract infections in hospitals and other healthcare settings, creating a tremendous burden on the nations healthcare system and public health in general. According to the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (CBIC), preventing these infections has the potential to save lives, reduce illness and disability, and avoid billions of dollars in unnecessary healthcare expenses.

In the days leading up to International Infection Prevention Week, Oct. 17-23, CBIC encourages all infection prevention and control professionals to seek CIC® certification. The credential, administered by CBIC, identifies healthcare professionals who have shown a mastery of knowledge in infection prevention and control.

Infection prevention and control professionals are responsible for developing and implementing infection prevention and control measures, educating healthcare workers and the public on infection prevention, analyzing infection data to assess effectiveness of actions, and pursuing the condition of zero infections in all healthcare settings.

"CIC certification shows a commitment to best practices in infection prevention and control and improved patient care," says CBIC president Fran M. Feltovich, CIC. "CBIC firmly supports the IIPW premise that infection control is everyones business and that collaboration among stakeholders is imperative to reduce infections."

International Infection Prevention Week was established in 1986 to promote the work of infection preventionists and educate the public on the importance of preventing infection. IIPW is sponsored by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc (APIC); Community and Hospital Infection Control Association Canada (CHICA-Canada); and the International Federation of Infection Control (IFIC); and is supported by many other association partners.

"IIPW is an important time to focus on the need for certified infection preventionists," says APIC president Cathryn L. Murphy, PhD, CIC. "During IIPW, we strive to raise greater awareness about infection prevention and commemorate the work of healthcare professionals and administrators, legislators and consumers for their commitment to reducing infection worldwide."

The CIC credential is supported by numerous infection control organizations, including APIC, CHICA-Canada and IFIC. Says CHICA-Canada president Anne Bialachowski, CIC, "This credential is a key initiative in our efforts to prevent healthcare-acquired infections."

The Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. was founded in 1981 to protect the public by raising the standard of the infection prevention and control profession through the development, administration and promotion of an accredited certification process. The CIC certification is held by more than 4,000 infection prevention and control professionals working in hospitals, long-term care facilities, ambulatory care centers and other healthcare settings throughout the world. For more information, visit www.cbic.org.