The collaborative project bringing together infection control and occupational health lead by Drs. Elizabeth Bryce (VCH) and Annalee Yassi (UBC)
was awarded the Top Achievements in Health Research by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).
Within the last five years, the innovative occupational health-infection control collaboration has been seen in Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, South Africa and leading international organizations including the WHO, PAHO, NIOSH, ILO and ICOH, to be improving the efficiency and effectiveness of health professionals and the health care system, through changes to practice and policy in infection control for health workers. Their team’s approach has benefited Canadians both directly and indirectly through its work abroad and has resulted in health services, products and policies that are being embraced nationally and internationally. The guidelines, research and needs assessment instruments, web-based health information system, and on-line learning modules will continue to have widespread impact well into the future.