Who Are Infection Preventionists

Welcome Infection Preventionists (IPs)

Whether you are a new Infection Preventionist, an experienced professional, healthcare leader, or community partner, we are honored to have you here. 

Everyday IPs stand on the front lines protecting patients, healthcare workers, residents, and communities from healthcare-associated infections and emerging infectious diseases. Through science, education, collaboration, and leadership, Infection Preventionists help create safer healthcare environments where quality care can thrive. 

At HAIIP, we believe infection prevention is more than regulatory compliance – it is a commitment to excellence, patient safety, and public trust. Our goal is to provide practical tools, evidence-based resources, education, and collaborative partnerships that empower healthcare facilities to continuously improve infection prevention practices across every care setting. 

Together, we can reduce healthcare-associated infections, improve outcomes, strengthen preparedness, and protect the health of our communities. 

We are excited to partner with you in this important work.

Who Are Infection Preventionists?

Infection Preventionists (IPs) are highly trained healthcare professionals dedicated to preventing infections and promoting patient safety across the continuum of care. They come from diverse professional backgrounds including nursing, public health, microbiology, laboratory science, epidemiology, respiratory therapy, environmental health and other allied health disciplines. Their expertise extends beyond hospitals into long-term facilities, outpatient clinics, dialysis centers, surgery centers, correctional healthcare, schools, emergency preparedness programs, public health agencies, and community healthcare organizations. Working behind the scenes and at the bedside, IPs transform evidence into practice, ensuring healthcare systems remain safe, resilient, and prepared to respond to both everyday infection risks and emerging public health threats.

The Impact of Infection Preventionists?

IPs are leaders in healthcare quality and patient safety. Using evidence-based practices supported by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and nationally recognized professional standards, IPs guide healthcare organizations toward safer, higher-quality care.  

IPs:

  • Champion a culture of safety throughout healthcare organizations and improve healthcare quality through performance improvement, education, and evidence-based practices
  • Promote hand hygiene, isolation precautions, environmental cleaning, and disinfection best practices and address infection risks related to hand hygiene, medical devices, surgical procedures, and standard and transmission-based precautions
  • Conduct surveillance, identify trends, and investigate outbreaks and report infections
  • Lead antimicrobial stewardship efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance
  • Partner with leadership to strengthen regulatory compliance and patient safety initiatives 
  • Collaborate with local, state, and federal public health agencies during outbreaks and emerging infectious disease events
  • Strengthen emergency preparedness and healthcare system resilience