18 October, 2021
‘Infection prevention and control is a practical, evidence-based approach which prevents patients and health workers from being harmed by avoidable infection as a result of antimicrobial resistance,’ (WHO). To celebrate International Infection Prevention Week, Fortress are celebrating the hard work and dedication that health workers provide to the sick and vulnerable. We also plan to raise awareness about the importance of keeping yourself and others safe from disease and infection outside of a clinical setting. The awareness week runs from October 18th-22nd October 2021 and its theme is ‘Make your intention infection prevention’.
International Infection Prevention Week, (IIPW) was founded in 1986 by President Ronald Regan. His aim was to reduce spending through removing the risk of health care infection, (Infection Prevention and you). This awareness week is celebrated and marked all over the world in an attempt to reduce preventable infections in a healthcare setting. Catching infections within a health care setting is still a large risk in parts of the world, ‘1 in 10 patients get an infection while receiving care in a medical setting’, (WHO). Therefore, this awareness week is as important as ever to raise awareness and thank the health care workers for doing their part to keep the population safe throughout the year.
Infection prevention has become such a large part of everyone’s lives throughout the COVID-19 pandemic that we often forget that health care workers and medics risk their lives everyday with antibiotic resistant infections to keep patients safe and healthy. There are many ways healthcare workers protect vulnerable people from infection both during the COVID-19 pandemic and before. These include but are not limited to the following;
- Wearing personal protective equipment
- Washing your hands frequently
- Take essential vaccinations to stop the spread of infections
- General good hygiene
(Harvard Health).
These are also steps any individual can take to stop the spread of COVID-19 and other infections that pose a serious health risk if left untreated such as tuberculosis, rubella, streptococcus and many more. As the global pandemic continues to grow, the importance of infection control also grows. If there is a daily focus on infection prevention, this minimises the risks of these infections and diseases growing further.
One of the main ways to prevent infection is to undergo regular testing for illnesses you are in high risk of catching. Fortress offer testing products for a range of diseases and illnesses. To keep yourself and others safe this International Infection Prevention Week, take a look at our product range here.
