Infection Prevention Week

WHEREAS, the Alabama members of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC)  are proud to support the International Infection Prevention Week in each of our healthcare facilities with events to heighten awareness about infection prevention; through their efforts, they provide education to improve infection prevention practices in healthcare facilities throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, all Alabama hospitals report healthcare-associated infections (HAI) to the CDC National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) database as required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid; in an effort to combat healthcare-associated infections, Alabama passed the Mike Denton Infection Reporting Act; the Alabama Healthcare Data Advisory Council assists the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) with development of the ADPH HAI reporting and prevention program; and

WHEREAS, the state of Alabama recognizes our Infection Preventionists, dedicated healthcare professionals who work to protect patients from healthcare-associated infections; and

WHEREAS, Infection Prevention Week is a time to celebrate the work that is being done to reduce healthcare-associated infections in our community and to engage consumers in their own care:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim the week of October 20 through October 26, 2013, as

Infection Prevention Week

in the state of Alabama.