History

There has been an active association of infection control professionals in Manitoba since 1975. What began as a small interest group of 5 infection control nurses was inaugurated as a chapter of Community and Hospital Infection Control Association (CHICA)-Canada in 1981. Today, renamed as Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Manitoba, the chapter has approximately 65 members. Our membership now includes people from rural and urban centers across the province and from acute care, long term care, public health, community clinics and healthcare industry.

Our chapter has been awarded the IPAC Canada chapter Achievement award in 1988, 1995, 2000 and 2019. We have hosted the national education conference in 1983, 1995 and 2005. We are planning to host it again in 2025.

IPAC Manitoba chapter meets approximately the second Monday of January, March, September and November.  These meetings usually include a business session and an educational component. Each year we sponsor a full day Conference Day that is open to all. It includes displays from industry and focuses on educating health care providers about infection prevention and control issues. We also have an Infection Control member's education half day, which is especially for our membership. It focuses on topics specifically for Infection Control Professionals and is an opportunity to educate ourselves and have some fun.