Infection Prevention Week Is Coming — Are You Ready?
International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) is a critical call to action to renew our commitment to safety, compliance, and training.
Why it matters:
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) remain a leading cause of preventable harm, with significant clinical and financial consequences. The CDC estimates that 1 in 31 hospital patients in the U.S. has at least one HAI on any given day (CDC, 2020). The good news? Most of these infections are preventable through basic, consistent infection prevention practices, especially hand hygiene and PPE use.
As we approach IIPW (October 19–25, 2025), facilities have a timely opportunity to elevate infection prevention from compliance to culture, and technology is leading the way.
2025 IIPW Theme:
“Unite Prevent Protect Prevail (UPPP)”
This year’s theme aligns perfectly with innovations in training and education, which empower staff to practice safer care, especially when training is:
Accessible
Practical
Measurable
Engaging and fun
That’s where Blue Mirror comes in.
Blue Mirror: Powering IIPW with Smart Training Tools
Blue Mirror’s AI-driven training platform is helping hospitals and health systems across the globe:
Improve hand hygiene performance with real-time feedback
Deliver scenario-based PPE training in immersive formats
Track compliance metrics with precision
Identify knowledge gaps for targeted interventions
Unlike passive annual modules, Blue Mirror offers interactive, repeatable, and scalable hands-on training customisable to your guidelines. Its platform is ideal for IIPW awareness campaigns, enabling facilities to host on-demand simulations and team competitions that drive real behaviour change.
Use Infection Prevention Week to Drive Real Change
Hand hygiene training and PPE competency should be front and centre during IIPW events. Here’s how to make it stick:
Simulation Training Use AI-based tools like Blue Mirror for interactive, high-fidelity practice
Data Transparency Share unit-level training and compliance stats to encourage accountability
Micro-learning Moments Offer brief, repeatable refreshers to staff from any computer
Gamification Host department-wide competitions to improve training completion
The ROI of Better Training
Incorporating immersive training isn’t just good practice — it’s smart business.
Zimlichman et al. (2013) found that HAIs add $9.8 billion annually to U.S. healthcare costs
HAI incidence can be reduced by 70% (Puro et al., 2022), especially when PPE and hand hygiene are prioritized
AI-based platforms improve competency, ensure faster onboarding, and better protocol adherence across shifts
Ready to power up Infection Prevention Week?
Explore how Blue Mirror can support your Infection Prevention Week plans with AI-driven hand hygiene and PPE training: www.bluemirror.ai
Make this IIPW the year your team goes beyond awareness — and into action.
References:
International Infection Prevention Week https://infectionpreventionandyou.org/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2020). Healthcare-associated Infections. https://www.cdc.gov/hai/data/index.html
Zimlichman, E., Henderson, D., Tamir, O., et al. (2013). Health care-associated infections: a meta-analysis of costs and financial impact on the US health care system. JAMA Intern Med, 173(22), 2039–2046. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.9763
Puro V, et al. Pillars for prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections: an Italian expert opinion statement. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 2022;11(1):87. doi:10.1186/s13756-022-01125-8.
