By the bioMérieux Connection Editors
The Association of Professionals in Infection Prevention (APIP) (Association des infirmières en prévention des infections [AIPI]), an organization of Infection Control Nurses in the province of Québec, recently held its 41st Scientific Days Conference with the goal of highlighting the important work done by nurses in the infection control field.
Infection Control Nurses help prevent the spread of infectious agents like bacteria, parasites, viruses, and fungi in healthcare environments. While all nurses are trained to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, Infection Control Nurses specifically spend their time researching and analyzing data and trends to prevent outbreaks of dangerous Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs).
It is critical to control and prevent HAIs, as many of these infections are caused by serious antibiotic-resistant threats, such as Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). According to the CDC, these bacteria alone cause over 13,025 deaths per year.
Infection Control Nurses are on the front lines in the fight against HAIs—a preventable threat to public safety. They work daily to:
- Analyze infection data, facts and trends
- Share findings with other healthcare professionals
- Teach others (patients and hospital staff) how to control and prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases
- Create sanitation plans
- Reinforce infection control practices
Download this infographic by the Emergency Nurses Association to learn more about infection prevention and control, and the important role nurses play in breaking the chain of infection.
Opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those of bioMérieux, Inc.
