Denise Cardo, MD Director, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The past two years have been an extraordinary time for the U.S. healthcare system and public health. Many healthcare facilities and healthcare workers were pushed to the brink—facing incredible hurdles during the COVID-19 pandemic, including increased patient caseload, staffing challenges, and other operational changes. As the pandemic unfolded, one thing became abundantly clear: the pandemic re-emphasized the critical importance of infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities in keeping patients and healthcare personnel safe. Public
