About us

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is the leading professional association for infection preventionists (IPs) with more than 15,000 members. Our mission is to advance the science and practice of infection prevention and control.

Preventing Infections. Protecting Lives.

Many IPs work in healthcare institutions as educators, researchers, consultants, and clinical scientists. Most APIC members are in acute care, with growing numbers in ambulatory, outpatient, long-term, and home health settings, where infection prevention is an increasing responsibility. Most APIC members are nurses, physicians, public health professionals, epidemiologists, microbiologists, or medical technologists who:

Collect, analyze, and interpret health data in order to track infection trends, plan appropriate interventions, measure success, and report relevant data to public health agencies.

Establish scientifically based infection prevention practices and collaborate with the healthcare team to assure implementation.

Work to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in healthcare facilities by isolating sources of infections and limiting their transmission.

Educate healthcare personnel and the public about infectious diseases and how to limit their spread.

Who Are Infection Preventionists?

Download APIC’s Infographic to learn more about who IPs are, what they do, and who they work with.

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Empowering IPs Through Education

APIC’s educational programs, products, and services support the infection prevention activities of the many patient safety stakeholders. APIC collaborates with other professional associations, consumer groups, and thought leaders, as well as regulatory and accrediting bodies, to maximize the synergy of shared interests and resources with the goal of improving patient outcomes.

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Mission & Vision

In June 2021, the APIC Board of Directors updated the association’s vision and mission to better reflect the post-COVID-19 reality that infection prevention is a necessity not just in hospitals and clinics, but in schools, gyms, airports, movie sets, hotels, grocery stores, office buildings, and more. In short, infection prevention is everyone’s business.

Vision: A safer world through the prevention of infection

Mission: To advance the science and practice of infection prevention and control

Video: Healthcare experts discuss the importance of robust infection prevention and control programs and the value of infection preventionists to patient outcomes and a hospital’s bottom line.

APIC Strategic Plan

Champion the Scientific Advancement and Practice of Infection Prevention and Control

Prioritize, promote, and support infection prevention research

Develop and disseminate evidence-based best practice guidance and education for infection prevention and control

Advance research competency among IPs

Advance knowledge and utilization of AI and digital health technologies among IPs

Elevate Infection Preventionists as Essential Advocates, Leaders, and Experts

Engage and influence key leaders on the value of the IPC field and profession

Strengthen leadership capabilities to enhance the influence of IPs

Foster adoption of the staffing calculator to influence key stakeholders

Influence the policy and regulatory environment to advance infection prevention

Foster Development of the Next Generation Infection Prevention and Control Workforce

Promote and nurture pathways to enter the field of IPC

Grow the number of academically aligned programs to the IP Academic Pathway

Develop strategies to attract new talent

Develop strategies to retain existing IPs

Foundational Elements

APIC’s Strategic Plan is built on key elements that strengthen the infection prevention profession, including education, research, advocacy, resources, and a strong member community.

Membership

Education

Committees and Taskforces

Practice Resources

Community and Networking

Research

Advocacy

Practice Guidance

History

2022 marked an important milestone: 50 years of APIC! Together we honor the history of the association, including the visionary group who led its inception and past presidents who carried the torch. Our members have made immense strides in infection prevention and control (IPC) over the past 50 years, changing the course of history.

As we look to the next 50 years, there is incredible excitement about how IPs will continue to shape the outlook of IPC and work together to create a safer world through the prevention of infection.

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See APIC’s Past Presidents

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See List of Founders

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Voices of APIC

Maureen Spencer

M.Ed, RN, CIC, FAPIC

APIC Helped with the Overwhelm

I started in the field in Sept 1973 when I was 20 years old. There were not many of us – in all of New England there were only 50 of us – Carole DeMille reached out to me at Carney Hospitals where I first started and provided an orientation at MGH for me. In Aug. 1985 I became an IP at MGH with Marie Kelleher – there were only two of us for 1,000 beds and 22,000 employees. It was overwhelming when we had to implement the Federal Register Interim Guidelines for the Prevention of Bloodborne Pathogens. I used a multi-media kit distributed to department-based champions to achieve clinical implementation and presented a poster at APIC in 1989.

Len Pepe

CPA, MSA

Decades of Growing Together

I was part of this organization from 1977 to about 2015 in auditing, tax assistance, and consulting on finance and governance. In those 38 years I had a great relationship with all that came through the Board and committees and management. I grew with APIC learning all the way and hopefully making it a more successful trade association from one year to the next.