APIC and SHEA Announce Collaboration to Address Infection Prevention Priorities

APIC and SHEA have announced a new collaborative initiative to address “infection prevention priorities of national importance.”

The new group, called the Healthcare Infection Prevention Advisory Group (HIPAG), has been formed to fill the void left by the elimination of the CDC’s Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). The dissolution of that group raises concerns about “potential variation and inconsistencies in organizational policies and clinical practice.” This group is meant to patch up gaps in “coordinated, multidisciplinary alignment on infection prevention and control and antimicrobial stewardship issues.”

The group will include “invited representative experts across medical societies, healthcare organizations, public health, and patient advocacy groups.” APIC and SHEA believe they will “help maintain a unified approach to infection prevention as new challenges and emerging threats continue to evolve.” HIPAG will work to prevent “fragmented or duplicative efforts, promote alignment, and strengthen collaboration by connection subject matter experts across disciplines and care settings.”

The structure and membership of the group will be finalized in the coming weeks. SHEA president David Weber stated that “evidence-informed infection prevention policies save lives.” Carol McLay, president of APIC, said that the collaboration is “not only critical to the safety of healthcare delivery—it is key to restoring trust and confidence among patients, families, and the professionals who care for them.”