WASHINGTON, April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) today announced a new national initiative to improve influenza immunization rates among health care workers. APIC is a non-profit organization with over 10,000 members that supports improvements in the quality of health care through the practice and management of infection control and health care epidemiology.
Influenza immunization rates among health care workers remain unacceptably low, only 36 percent of this group is immunized, despite long-standing recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that all health care workers receive an annual vaccination. Research shows health care workers, in particular, are at an increased risk for contracting influenza due to contact with ill patients. Furthermore, infected health care workers can spread the influenza virus to patients in their care, many of whom may be at high risk for influenza-related complications.
“Infection control professionals can play a critical role in helping institutions improve health care worker influenza immunization rates,” said Jeanne Pfeiffer, APIC president. “APIC is committed to providing useful resources to its members to help them achieve this important public health goal.”
Institutional influenza outbreaks can have serious consequences for both patients and health care workers. Not only do outbreaks put patients at risk of contracting influenza, they can exacerbate existing staff shortages, limit admissions and increase health care costs. Health care workers also tend to work through or return to work sooner during illness, thus increasing the likelihood of transmitting the virus to patients and co-workers.
As part of its new multi-faceted initiative, APIC will develop and publish a position statement calling for improved health care worker influenza immunization rates. The new recommendations will be published in an upcoming issue of the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC).
The position statement highlights actions APIC members can take to address the critical need to improve health care worker influenza immunization rates. Interventions by health care facilities are needed to encourage health care worker vaccination; interventions include educating employees about the importance of influenza vaccination and making vaccine accessible to workers.
APIC is also conducting a membership survey to assess the state of employee influenza immunization programs at members’ institutions and will develop new resources for members that are designed to help infection control specialists to persuade health care institutions to implement formal influenza control policies. APIC’s initiative, including the survey results and new professional resources for members, will be highlighted at APIC’s 31st Annual Educational Conference in Phoenix, Arizona on June 9, 2004.
Influenza is a serious and sometimes deadly infection that causes an average of 36,000 deaths and 114,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. each year. Vaccination is the primary means of reducing transmission and preventing influenza infection. Immunization provides protection for health care workers and patients and minimizes workforce absenteeism during the flu season.
APIC is a nonprofit professional association comprised of more than 10,000 members whose responsibility is the prevention and control of infections and related adverse outcomes in patients and health care workers. APIC promotes wellness and prevents illness and infection worldwide by advancing health care epidemiology through education, research, collaboration, practice and credentialing. APIC’s vision is to improve the health of people worldwide by serving as the pre-eminent voice for excellence in the prevention and control of infections and related disease outcomes.
Contact: Heather Carman, 212-886-2200
Epidemiology
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and
CONTACT: Heather Carman, +1-212-886-2200, for APIC
