APIC issues updated Mpox ‘Playbook’ to help IPs prepare in light of Global Health Emergency declared by WHO

Arlington, Va., August 14, 2024 — In light of today’s declaration by the WHO that the ongoing outbreak of mpox in Africa is a public health emergency, APIC has an updated tool in the field for infection preventionists (IP) and epidemiologists.

APIC’s Emerging Infectious Diseases Task Force has created an Mpox Playbook  that IPs can download and customize for use in their facilities. Playbooks are free, open-access resources designed to help healthcare facilities in outbreak response.

 About the pathogen-specific Playbook, APIC CEO Devin Jopp EdD, MS says in a statement:  “The Mpox Playbook was designed for facilities to be able respond as soon as they suspect an outbreak and prevent its spread. To respond, IPs and epidemiologists must identify the pathogen, prevent its transmission, and ensure that workers are operating safely. They must also make sure that patients are safe, both in the facility and at discharge, and keep an open line of communications to healthcare stakeholders.”

Jopp went on to say that, “Infection preventionists are often incident command leaders when disease outbreaks hit their facilities and the updated playbook is designed to help them prepare and mobilize quickly. It’s critical that we use what we learned during COVID-19 and the prior MPox outbreak in 2022 to improve infectious disease outbreak response to protect the patients and staff in our nation’s healthcare facilities.”

Founded in 1972, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is the leading association for infection preventionists and epidemiologists. With more than 15,000 members, APIC advances the science and practice of infection prevention and control. APIC carries out its mission through research, advocacy, and patient safety; education, credentialing, and certification; and fostering development of the infection prevention and control workforce of the future. Together with our members and partners, we are working toward a safer world through the prevention of infection. Join us and learn more at apic.org.

Media contacts: Aaron Cohen, aaroncohenpr@gmail.com, 301-633-6773; Liz Garman, egarman@apic.org, 202-454-2604