The One & Only Campaign: A Key Resource for Promoting Safe Injection Practices

BACKGROUND:  Current outbreaks and patient notification events from lapses in injection safety and basic infection control practices highlight the ongoing need to promote safe injection practices in U.S. healthcare settings. Health departments are in a unique position to educate healthcare providers and others on the importance of basic infection control.

METHODS:  The One & Only Campaign (Campaign) —a public health education and awareness campaign — was created by the Safe Injection Practices Coalition (SIPC) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to advance and promote safe injection practices. Health departments across the U.S. are valued participants in the Campaign due to their role in healthcare-associated infection response, prevention, and education activities. Health departments participating in the Campaign receive regular injection safety updates, including relevant news articles and notification about new Campaign materials; exclusive conference calls on state and local injection safety activities; and recognition on the Campaign’s popular website.

RESULTS: At the end of 2014, there were 28 local and state health departments officially recognized as Campaign members, representing a three-fold increase over 2013. The number of states receiving funding specifically to support injection safety activities also increased, from four to seven. In 2014, over 21,860 materials were downloaded from the Campaign’s website, an increase of >50% compared with 2013. The Campaign’s social media presence has also expanded. There have been more than 1,100 retweets, replies, and marked favorites on the Campaign’s Twitter account in 2014, compared to less than 150 in 2013. The Campaign’s Facebook page has been liked over 1,140 times since January 2014, compared to less than 350 times in 2013. In 2014, health department members shared Campaign-related information via emails to more than 57,000 recipients and at more than 40 trainings.  

CONCLUSIONS:   Health departments are important collaborators in communicating critical injection safety information and investigation of outbreaks related to unsafe injection practices. They have an essential role in promoting safe injection practices in all healthcare settings, and membership with the One & Only Campaign can be a valuable resource in assisting with this effort.