The Globalisation of Infection Prevention
In 2008 there are more countries with dedicated local and/or national programs designed to reduce or eliminate healthcare associated infections (HAIs) than at any other time in history. Interestingly the global infection control stage is becoming more crowded as non-traditional players including claim infection control expertise at either individual or organisational level. High level campaigns of global magnitude are becoming more common and regional organisations such as the Asia-Pacific Society of Infection Control (APSIC) continue to grow in membership size and influence. Additionally, the WHO has signalled its intention to establish multiple Infection Control Collaborating Centres. More interestingly, some see US-based organisations such as the Association for Practitioners in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology (APIC) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as continuing to have substantial influence in shaping our profession. Recent provocative US lead initiatives such as the impending change to reimbursement and the promulgation of the title “Infection Preventionist” will inevitably also influence the growth and direction of Australian infection control. I would strongly encourage all Australian ICPs to stay abreast of recent, critical global infection prevention trends and initiatives as well as they will inevitable impact us.