Key Challenges to be Addressed at Infection Control Futures Summit in San Diego

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Leaders of the nations pre-eminent infection

control association are gearing up for a Futures Summit to be held Nov. 11-12,

2004, in San Diego, to explore the challenges and opportunities in the ever-changing field of infection prevention and control.

The Summit, Infection Control in a Dynamic World: A New Vision for a New

Reality, will provide the opportunity to garner the experience and insights of many leading experts of the day. The Summit will provide the foundation for an ongoing futures process that will inform APICs strategic direction for the next three to five years.

The Summit is the first step toward the development of a living strategy for the

Association and the profession an ongoing means of anticipating and positively influencing changes in our environment, said Kathy Warye, executive director of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). We are grateful for the vision and support of our corporate partners in the futures process. We look forward to working side-by-side with them to positively influence and shape the future.

The challenges confronting the infection control community are numerous, in the

face of changing demographics, emerging infectious diseases, and new roles in

emergency preparedness.

We like to view these challenges as opportunities to learn and improve the way we

protect our patients and the public, said APIC President Jeanne Pfeiffer, RN, MPH, CIC.

The day-to-day challenges in our healthcare facilities alone remain a major focus for

infection control professionals. In addition to that colossal responsibility, the practice of

infection prevention pervades virtually every aspect of emergency response from

addressing emerging public health threats such as SARS, to facing a bioterrorist attack.

Our role has never been more critical -- it is therefore vitally important that we

continuously shape our response to such challenges.

The highlights of these discussions will result in a published report. The specific

recommendations that emerge from the Summit and futures process will serve as an

important tool for the future of the profession.

APIC acknowledges its industry partners whose vision and participation are vital to the futures process: Cardinal Health, 3M Health Care, Kimberly-Clark, Medi-Flex, Advanced Sterilization Products Johnson & Johnson, Steris, Tyco, MedMined, BD, and B Braun.

APIC is a multi-disciplinary voluntary international health organization with more than 10,000 members whose primary responsibility is infection prevention and control and epidemiology. APICs mission is to improve health and promote patient and employee safety by reducing risks of infection and other adverse outcomes. APIC advances this mission through education, research, collaboration, practice, and credentialing.

Source: APIC