ARLINGTON, Va. — The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) issued the following statement in response to The New York Times report on staffing losses and operational strain at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Every day, infection preventionists and healthcare epidemiologists in hospitals, nursing homes, and outpatient clinics rely on the CDC’s science, surveillance, and guidance to keep patients and healthcare personnel safe. The reporting that the agency has lost nearly a third of its workforce, including experienced scientists in its emerging infectious disease and respiratory disease centers, confirms what our members have been experiencing on the front lines. Guidance is slower to arrive, technical assistance is harder to reach, and scientific expertise is thinner at a time when it is most needed.
The timing could not be more concerning. Healthcare facilities are entering respiratory virus season without updated federal vaccine recommendations. At the same time, they are preparing for measles exposures and monitoring imported threats such as Ebola. Infection prevention does not work without a strong, credible national partner. When that partner is weakened, the burden shifts to already stretched facilities and to state and local health departments. Ultimately, patients and communities bear the consequences.
“Infection preventionists safeguard our nation’s healthcare system against healthcare-associated infections, and we depend on the CDC to arm us with timely, evidence-based guidance,” said APIC President, Kathy Ward RN, BSN, MPH, FAPIC, CIC. “The losses described in this report put that partnership, and patient safety, at risk.”
“Healthcare epidemiology is built on sound science and trusted data,” said Lisa Maragakis, MD, MPH, FIDSA, FSHEA, President, SHEA. “The CDC’s scientific independence and expert workforce are national assets that cannot be rebuilt overnight once they are lost.”
APIC and SHEA urge Congress and the Administration to take three key steps:
- Restore and sustain CDC staffing in infectious disease, healthcare quality promotion, and laboratory programs.
- Protect the agency’s scientific independence.
- Ensure that funds appropriated for state and local public health partners are distributed promptly.
About APIC
Founded in 1972, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is the leading association for infection preventionists and epidemiologists. With more than 15,000 members, APIC advances the science and practice of infection prevention and control. APIC carries out its mission through research, advocacy, and patient safety; education, credentialing, and certification; and fostering development of the infection prevention and control workforce of the future. Together with our members and partners, we are working toward a safer world through the prevention of infection. Join us and learn more at apic.org
Media Contact: Malina Jacobowitz or Jackie Amato at communications@apic.org