IFIC2016 finds itself in Vienna, the ‘City of Music’. It is a city with strong associations with Ignaz Semmelweis, the father of modern “hygiene”, and thus of healthcare infection prevention and control. Today, this field of work is – as many other aspects of our lives – confronted with intriguing perspectives as well as frightening but exciting challenges. It is this that prompted us to choose “Looking back to understand the future” as the title of the Conference, and has guided the planning and the flavour of our sessions.
IFIC 2016 will aim to show how we have evolved modern day practices. Like Semmelweis, we hope to identify and help overcome the problems we all face in our attempts to introduce changes in medical practices that will lead to clear, sustainable reductions in infections in the patients cared for in all health settings. Our scientific programme will present experiences from all over the world to help understand and influence patterns of behaviour, highlight the different approaches needed globally to be synchronous with the different cultures and values found within diverse countries and institutions, and identify ways in which we can bring about effective change.
