Unisource Worldwide, Inc., one of the largest privately held companies in the United States and a global provider of comprehensive customer solutions including facility supplies and equipment, has signed on as a champion for International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW), October 14-20, 2012.

International Infection Prevention Week (http://iipw.site.apic.org/) – organized by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control (APIC) in the U.S., and the Community and Hospital Infection Control Association (CHICA) in Canada – raises awareness of the role infection prevention plays to improve patient safety and promote the belief that infection prevention is everyone's business. It is now formally recognized in many areas around the world including the U.S., Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. As IIPW expands, more patients benefit from safer healthcare practices and reduced threat of healthcare-associated infections.

"Unisource supports APIC's and CHICA's goal to provide education to improve infection prevention practices in healthcare facilities throughout North America," said Garrett Gerst, Senior Marketing Manager, Facility Supplies for Unisource Worldwide.  "We ask consumers to join with us. If you or a loved one is going into the hospital, remember: clean hands are essential to preventing infections. It is appropriate and acceptable to ask healthcare providers to clean their hands before touching you. Patients and visitors need to do the same. Infection prevention is everyone's responsibility."

APIC's (www.apic.org) mission is to create a safer world through prevention of infection. The association's more than 14,000 members direct infection prevention programs to save lives and improve the bottom line for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. APIC advances its mission through patient safety, implementation science, competencies and certification, advocacy, and data standardization.

CHICA-Canada (www.chica.org) is a national, multidisciplinary association committed to the wellness and safety of Canadians by promoting best practices in infection prevention and control through education, standards, advocacy, and consumer awareness.  

With an extensive supplier base, national distribution network throughout North America, logistics expertise, and nationwide sales force in the U.S. and Canada, Unisource offers convenient access, and reliable and timely delivery of industry-leading cleaning and facility maintenance products.  The company offers a vast array of customer solutions to fulfill customer needs for maintenance supplies, cleaning chemicals and equipment, sanitary papers, packaging materials, and office papers.