The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) have announced the formation of the Healthcare Infection Prevention Advisory Group (HIPAG). This initiative aims to address national infection prevention priorities following the recent elimination of the CDC's Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC).
With HICPAC no longer in place, concerns have been raised about potential inconsistencies and gaps in infection prevention, control policies, and antimicrobial stewardship. HIPAG is designed to fill these gaps by providing evidence-based advisory expertise to healthcare organizations and the broader community.
According to APIC and SHEA, HIPAG will include representatives from medical societies, healthcare organizations, public health entities, and patient advocacy groups. The goal is to maintain a unified approach as new infection prevention challenges arise.
"APIC is proud to partner with SHEA and our colleagues across healthcare and public health in this essential initiative," said Carol McLay, DrPH, MPH, RN, CIC, FAPIC, FSHEA, 2025 APIC president. "HIPAG reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that infection prevention remains science-driven, practical, and grounded in real-world expertise. This collaboration is not only critical to the safety of healthcare delivery—it is key to restoring trust and confidence among patients, families, and the professionals who care for them."
The structure and membership of HIPAG will be determined in the coming weeks. Organizations interested in participating or contributing expert representatives are encouraged to contact APIC or SHEA for more information.
