International Infection Prevention Week: Protecting Patients Everywhere

Each year, in the third week of October, we celebrate a global event called International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) to raise awareness of the importance of preventing infection for patient safety. Infection prevention is everybody’s responsibility. Each of us – whether we are patients, families of patients, or healthcare practitioners – have an important role to play in protecting patients from infection.

Throughout decades, this week of recognition has greatly expanded to every corner of the globe, including Southeast Asia. As the reach of IIPW widens, more patients are assisted safer healthcare practices and reduced threat of healthcare-associated infections.

IIPW acts as a virtual global community which promotes and convinces people everywhere to take a break and think about the importance of infection and how it can be prevented. IIPW is not limited only to medical practitioners working in hospitals, in fact, children and young people can take part in this movement, as the core message of IIPW is relevant to all healthcare contexts.

This year, IIPW is held from 14^th to 20^th of October with a theme: “Protecting Patients Everywhere”. We all agree that patient safety is a top priority. Although IIPW is only celebrated annually in mid-October, but the spirit and cause should last throughout the year.

Whether you are in a healthcare facility or in the community, there are steps that healthcare practitioners, patients and families can take to stay protected from infection, such as: