The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) announced the University of Arizona (UArizona) Campus Health Service as the Grand Prize winner of its 10th annual Film Festival competition, which would have been awarded during APIC’s 47th Annual Conference. The film, entitled “Handwash Lately?”, emphasizes the value of hand hygiene for patients and healthcare personnel.
Structured as a parody music video of Vanilla Ice’s hit, “Ice Baby,” the film follows UArizona Campus Health Service staff as they remind each other to handwash and sanitize regularly, complete with several detailed demonstrations between verses. Once the song ends, the staff walks viewers through hand hygiene basics they should keep in mind.
“The message UArizona Campus Health Service shares with viewers about the significance of proper hand hygiene protocol could not be timelier,” said 2020 APIC Annual Conference Chair Kay Sams, RN, BSN, MPH, CIC, FAPIC. “As the world fights COVID-19, these films bring smiles to faces everywhere and impart valuable, educational wisdom.”
An expert panel of judges selected the winning video for its creativity, originality, general appeal, significance to the infection prevention community, and entertaining and educational message.
In addition, APIC members voted for Texas-based Peterson Health’s “Soap & Scrub” to receive the People’s Choice Award. In the film, staff remind each other to practice safe hand hygiene with a catchy, acoustic parody of iconic hit “Twist & Shout.”
Allen E. Karz, M.D. in California received Most Innovative for “I’m A Virtual Washing Machine.” Ontario’s Peterborough Regional Health Centre received Most Humorous for “CPOO NEWS.” Each film engages viewers with humor, emotion, and/or music, all while tackling key themes in infection prevention and control. Peterborough Regional Health Centre breaks down actions and behaviors that annoy infection preventionists most with a 1920s-inspired silent film titled, “How to Bug an IP,” while University Hospital in New Jersey demonstrates proper handwashing for viewers in “We Got Clean Hands,” a parody of Bruno Mars’ “That’s What I Like.”
