The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), in collaboration with the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS), released a joint position paper today urging United States healthcare facilities to elevate the standards and effectiveness of their Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programs.

anton-8q-U8X1zkvI-unsplash

Despite decades of progress in reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), the COVID-19 pandemic exposed persistent vulnerabilities and resource gaps in IPC programs, highlighting the urgent need for stronger, better-resourced, and more influential efforts.

READ MORE: Hospitals that are understaffed for infection prevention and control have higher rates of infection, study says

READ MORE: Pediatric healthcare facilities need more staff dedicated to infection prevention

The new position paper calls on healthcare leaders, regulatory agencies, and payors to prioritize IPC programs as foundational and essential components of healthcare operations.

Fundamental to patient safety

“Preventing infections in healthcare settings is not optional—it’s fundamental to patient safety, healthcare quality, and operational stability,” said Dr. Tom Talbot, SHEA Past President and lead author of the paper.

“This position paper provides a clear roadmap for transforming IPC programs into highly effective, proactive, and properly resourced elements of healthcare delivery. Preventing harm to patients directly reduces healthcare costs and should be prioritized as much as revenue generation for its positive impact on both patients and healthcare systems.”

Key Recommendations from the Position Paper:

  • Healthcare facility leaders and regulatory partners should prioritize the expectation that IPC programs address all infectious risks and harms as a core requirement.
  • IPC program leaders should have direct access to senior facility executives who can provide prompt support for IPC initiatives.
  • Regulatory agencies and other evaluators of healthcare facility quality should assess IPC program leadership, including resource allocation, staff competencies, and leadership structures (such as the presence of a dyad leadership model), during facility surveys.

The position paper emphasizes that current regulatory requirements—such as the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) mandate for active IPC programs—lack clear definitions of program effectiveness. As a result, many facilities meet minimum standards without achieving comprehensive infection prevention efforts. The authors advocate for revised standards that promote continuously improving, data-driven IPC programs with measurable outcomes.

Dyad leadership model

A key recommendation is the adoption of a dyad leadership model to strengthen communication, collaboration, and the achievement of institutional goals. This model features two leaders from different professions sharing responsibilities: a Medical Director of IPC and an Infection Preventionist Director of IPC. Competencies for each role are outlined in the position paper, aligning with the complexity and evolving needs of modern healthcare organizations.

The societies emphasize that prioritizing effective IPC programs is critical not only for strong patient care, but also for sound financial and operational strategies that reduce preventable harms, enhance healthcare quality, and build public trust. Future initiatives will focus on providing healthcare facilities with tools and training to support the implementation of these best practices.

To read the full position paper, visit: https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2025.73,

Topics