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Ensuring healthcare worker compliance with the proper use of respiratory protection when it is warranted remains a challenge for infection preventionists and is a continued area of study by researchers in the public and private sectors. One such agency pursuing this knowledge is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the federal agency specifically dedicated to generating new knowledge in the field of occupational safety and health and to transferring that knowledge into practice.

In this dynamic healthcare environment in which infection prevention and quality of care are central issues, we have an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate our progress toward the elimination of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

It's undeniable that the role and responsibilities of today's infection preventionist (IP) bear little resemblance to the infection control practitioner of the past. While the core tenets of infection prevention and control carry over as the foundation of the profession, the expectations for the position itself have evolved such that a new framework is needed to help professionals respond to these demands. With many months of tireless work behind it, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is unveiling not only an updated strategic plan that articulates the association's vision for the future through 2020, but a set of professional competencies that will help IPs chart a corresponding course for their professional development.