APIC Applauds CDC for Declaring Racism a Serious Public Health Threat

The following statement is attributable to Ann Marie Pettis, BSN, RN, CIC, FAPIC, 2021 president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and Devin Jopp, Ed.D., Chief Executive Officer of APIC.

APIC Applauds CDC for Declaring Racism a Serious Public Health Threat

APIC applauds CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH, for declaring racism a serious public health threat. Health disparities and long-standing gaps in healthcare equity have become even more apparent as we have watched the pandemic's impact within certain segments of our population. Black, Indigenous, and people of color have contracted, been hospitalized, and died from COVID-19 at higher rates than white Americans.

Long before COVID-19, these same health inequities have plagued our nation. Research has demonstrated that health inequity and social determinants of health create conditions for the transmission of infectious diseases.

APIC stands ready to work with the CDC and the public health community to confront health inequity and health disparities in our nation. APIC will be focused on conducting research on how health equity and health disparities should be addressed in the field of infection prevention and control including designing interventions that can be deployed nationwide to reduce racial disparities in healthcare-associated infections and improve outcomes.

We must collectively push forward to remove these inequities in all aspects of our society and work to ensure that all have equal access and opportunity to live their healthiest lives.

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is creating a safer world through the prevention of infection. APIC's nearly 16,000 members develop and direct infection prevention and control programs that save lives and improve the bottom line for healthcare facilities. APIC advances its mission through patient safety, education, implementation science, competencies and certification, advocacy, and data standardization. Visit us at apic.org.

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Media Contact: Liz Garman, [email protected]; 202-454-2604

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