Unisource Worldwide, Inc. has signed on as a champion for International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW), October 14-20, 2012.

International Infection Prevention Week, organized by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control (APIC) in the U.S., and the Community and Hospital Infection Control Association (CHICA) in Canada, raises awareness of the role infection prevention plays to improve patient safety and promote the belief that infection prevention is everyone’s business. It is now formally recognized in many areas around the world including the U.S., Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. As IIPW expands, more patients benefit from safer healthcare practices and reduced threat of healthcare-associated infections.

“Unisource supports APIC’s and CHICA’s goal to provide education to improve infection prevention practices in healthcare facilities throughout North America,” said Garrett Gerst, Senior Marketing Manager, Facility Supplies for Unisource Worldwide.  “We ask consumers to join with us. If you or a loved one is going into the hospital, remember: clean hands are essential to preventing infections. It is appropriate and acceptable to ask healthcare providers to clean their hands before touching you. Patients and visitors need to do the same. Infection prevention is everyone’s responsibility.”