Severe infections such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile may be reduced radically in the future as a new forum for infection prevention and control professionals is launched next week on 26 September 2007 at the 37th annual Infection Control Nurses Association (ICNA) conference in Brighton. The newly formed Infection Prevention Society (IPS) completes the transformation of the ICNA into an organisation that welcomes all healthcare professionals working in infection prevention and control as full members.

The ICNA was formed in 1970, to provide a network for infection control nurses to meet and exchange best practice. "Over the past 37 years it has grown and achieved recognition as the leading nursing organisation in the field of infection prevention and control, with its expertise sought by government, voluntary and commercial bodies, " said Judy Potter, ICNA Chair and lead nurse/director of infection prevention and control at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust.

The Infection Prevention Society (IPS) will work together with healthcare colleagues, professional bodies, industry, government agencies and voluntary organisations in the fight to prevent and control infection.

Judy Potter continued: "The expertise developed within the ICNA over almost 4 decades will be further enhanced through the expanded membership of the IPS. Although infection prevention and control nurses will no doubt remain the backbone of the organisation, as they are within the infection control team in the workplace, we recognise that many other disciplines and roles have emerged within the sector. For example, infection control doctors, scientists, educationalists and researchers all have a valuable part to play in infection prevention".

She added: "The key to the success of the new IPS is that it will provide a multi-professional view from a single organisation. This broader perspective will help ensure the IPS is able to continue to focus on achieving the things important to staff, patients and the public - the delivery of clean, safe care without the fear of infection".

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