June 1, 2020

Statement attributable to Connie Steed, MSN, RN, CIC, FAPIC,
2020 President of APIC, on the public health impact of racism

“The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) condemns all forms of racism. As the nation faces its worst health and economic crisis in generations, which disproportionately affects the Black community and all other communities of color, APIC joins our voice with others in speaking out against racism and the social injustices it creates.

“APIC represents a vibrant and diverse workforce dedicated to infection prevention and control. Our members protect front-line health workers and patients from COVID-19, as well as deadly infections like MRSA and C. difficile. We stand with our members in speaking out against institutional racism that has a crippling effect on public health.

“Racial data for COVID-19 show that patients from historically marginalized communities are dying at higher rates than white Americans. Institutional racism and reduced access to medical care are just a few of the factors that put people of color at increased risk for poorer health outcomes. Racial inequalities increase levels of stress and contribute to worsening health disparities.

“As a healthcare organization, APIC considers racism an ongoing threat to public health and our mission. We are deeply concerned about discriminatory practices affecting racial and ethnic minorities and believe it is imperative that we as a nation address these injustices.”

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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