International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) 2026 took place October 19–25 under the theme “Generations of Infection Prevention: Past. Present. Protected.” The practical question for infection prevention teams is not which single intervention comes next, but how existing and emerging controls work together.
Organised by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), IIPW offers a reason to examine the whole prevention system, including what sits around each point of care.
The Three Layers
A useful way to review an infection prevention programme is through three connected layers:
- Behavioural controls. Hand hygiene, standard precautions, PPE and training underpin day-to-day practice.
- Formulated chemistry. Wipes, sprays and cleaning agents are selected and used according to their labels and the surfaces involved.
- Engineering and facility systems. Environmental surface treatment, air treatment and on-site preparation or generation can form part of the wider facility strategy.
These categories describe responsibilities, not product rankings. APIC's position is that technology should enhance fundamental infection prevention practice, not replace it. Adding an engineering measure is therefore not a reason to relax hand hygiene or other established precautions. The three layers also differ in budget, failure mode and evidence requirement: buying more hand rub does not close an environmental gap, and buying equipment does not replace hand hygiene.
Where Hand Hygiene Stops
Hand hygiene is carried out at particular moments by people working within a changing clinical workflow. Workloads, handovers and shift patterns create practical challenges for consistent execution; that does not mean individual staff lack commitment. It means a prevention plan should not depend on one action covering every situation.
Environmental surfaces may be touched repeatedly between cleaning activities. Contact between hands and shared surfaces creates a continuing management challenge. Aspects of the built environment and air handling sit outside the scope of hand hygiene alone.
Designing for Consistency
A written protocol is one part of a dependable system. IPC and facility teams also need to examine how it operates across shifts and workload changes.
Two questions guide that review:
1. Can the process be carried out consistently? Consider who performs each step, when it takes place, how completion is checked and where a missed step would be noticed.
2. Is each method appropriate for its setting? Review product-label instructions, relevant surface and device compatibility requirements, and how chemical and facility measures fit existing protocols.
Engineering may support repeatability, but its presence alone does not establish performance: each measure needs a defined role, procedure and verification plan.
Supply Chain as an Infection Control Variable
For procurement teams, the system extends beyond the treatment area. Bulk liquids bring decisions about transport, storage, shelf life and plastic packaging — dependencies that belong in the evaluation alongside intended use.
On-site generation, including approaches involving hypochlorous acid (HOCl), represents a different supply model worth evaluating. It also introduces responsibilities for operation, maintenance and verification. Procurement should compare the complete workflow, not assume that a change in how a solution is supplied automatically improves infection prevention outcomes. GemmyMedical's position is that on-site generation should be judged on the workflow it creates — equipment, maintenance, verification and ownership — rather than on the unit cost of a litre of solution.
Sustainability as the Next Layer
Sustainability should be addressed without lowering infection prevention requirements. Packaging, liquid transport and waste handling are the areas worth comparing across supply models — specifically what changes in purchasing, storage, use and disposal.
FAQ
How is IIPW 2026 different from a hand hygiene awareness campaign?
The theme, “Generations of Infection Prevention: Past. Present. Protected.”, provides a broader lens: protect established practices while considering how environmental and facility measures complement them.
What should procurement assess before considering on-site generation?
Review supply-chain dependencies alongside maintenance, operating responsibilities, verification needs and fit with existing IPC protocols.
Can HOCl replace all current cleaning and disinfection products?
No universal substitution should be assumed. Intended use, label directions and compatibility with specific materials and devices require review.
Where does environmental control fit into sustainability discussions?
Packaging, freight, storage and waste are the review areas; any claimed improvement needs evidence for the specific system.
Conclusion
A stronger prevention programme does not come from choosing one layer over the others. It comes from defining the responsibility of each layer, checking how they interact and verifying that the whole process can be maintained. For suppliers, the test is narrower: be specific about which layer a product belongs to, what it does not do, and how its performance is verified. That is the practical test behind the 2026 theme.
Cleaner environments. Smarter hygiene. Healthier communities.
GemmyMedical — All for Better Health.
