April 2016 - Over the past several months the Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Action Teams have made progress on two actions from the IPAC Action Plan: conducting an environmental scan, and the creation of a pan-Canadian set of case definitions for surveillance of healthcare associated infections.

CPSI is the lead for the IPAC and behavior change environmental scan. This work was completed with the support of a Masters of Public Health graduate student working at CPSI. An executive summary of the scan will soon be circulated to the IPAC summit participants and shared on the Forward with Four website.   The environmental scan will be used to inform the development of a national campaign focused on behavior change. 

Infection Prevention and Control Canada (IPAC Canada) and Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada (AMMI Canada) are co-leading an action to create a pan-Canadian set of case definitions for surveillance of healthcare-associated infections.  A working group has been established and have met virtually and in person.   Work is underway with key stakeholders to review the current set of definitions in acute care (the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program) and long-term care (McGeer revised by SHEA 2012).   IPAC-Canada's Network of Networks is assisting in engaging health authorities in this work.