Infection: Don’t Pass It On (IDPIO) is an ongoing public health campaign to involve VA staff, veterans, their families and visitors in preventing the transmission of infection. The campaign develops and distributes education and communication materials for the VA community that promote:

• Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette,
• Annual seasonal influenza vaccination,
• Correct and appropriate use of personal protective equipment,
• Pandemic influenza preparedness and response, and
• Basic public health measures to prevent transmission of infection.

Education and Communication Materials

The materials developed by the IDPIO campaign are targeted toward several types of audiences and designed to be used widely throughout the VA health care system.  Use and share these resources to help prevent the spread of infection:

• Hang posters in staff areas, clinic waiting areas and restrooms.
• Wear buttons to communicate messages about hand hygiene and seasonal influenza vaccination. 
• Give stickers to those who get a flu shot. 
• Distribute brochures to VA staff, veterans, their families and visitors.
• Show videos on waiting room TVs or closed circuit networks and during health fairs and staff meetings. Email links to videos to VA colleagues, community partners, veterans, their families and visitors.
• Use cafeteria tray liners on your facility's cafeteria and canteen food trays.

The major message of the campaign is to wash your hands and cover your coughs. These basic public health measures - hand and respiratory hygiene - can make a huge difference in reducing the spread of infection, and can save time, money, and lives.

Key Contacts at VA Health Care Facilities

We promote the campaign and the use of Flu and IDPIO Campaign materials widely. Facility contact groups that we consider important to carrying out the campaign in VA facilities have been established throughout the VA health care system. These key contacts are:

• Infection control professionals
• Patient safety officers
• Occupational health clinicians
• Public affairs officers
• Employee Education System (EES) education contacts
• Patient educators
• Prevention coordinators

Collaborating Offices

The IDPIO campaign is coordinated by the Public Health Strategic Health Care Group in collaboration with the programs and offices listed below.

• Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards
  • Public Health Strategic Health Care Group
  • Occupational Health, Safety, & Prevention Strategic Health Care Group
• Employee Education System
• Office of Patient Care Services
  • VA Infection Control Professionals
  • Infectious Diseases Program Office
  • National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
• National Center for Patient Safety

Learn more about IDPIO campaign collaborating offices and team members.