Two PICNet team members, Yosuf Kaliwal (Surveillance Epidemiologist – photo, left) and Sabbir Hossain (Surveillance Systems Coordinator – photo, right) attended the IPAC Canada National Conference held between June 1 and 4, 2025 in Winnipeg. Yosuf and Sabbir successfully applied for IPAC BC General Education scholarships to cover their costs. The purpose for attending was to showcase their PICNet work involving provincial infection prevention and control (IPC) surveillance.

The conference is an annual event that brings health care professionals (including front-line infection control practitioners, epidemiologists, physicians and leaders) working in infection prevention and control (IPC) across Canada together. Attendees connected with peers, explored new tools and technologies, and shared ideas that help improve infection prevention efforts and enhance patient safety.

“The conference was a great opportunity to learn about ongoing work in IPC in organizations across the country,” noted Yosuf. 

“I was especially intrigued by discussions on AI in infection control…and how IPC assessments on epidemiological sources of COVID-19 align with whole genome sequencing,” added Sabbir.

Yosuf and Sabbir took part in workshops and discussions focused on IPC practices, surveillance, research, outbreak response, and more. 

“I was pleased by the interest in my poster on provincial CDI and MRSA trends across the COVID-19 timeline, and I directed attendees to our upcoming annual surveillance report for more information,” said Sabbir. “I’m grateful to IPAC BC for the support and opportunity to share our work and learn from infection prevention and control professionals across Canada.”

Scans of both posters with brief summaries are available on PICNet’s website: PICNet Conference Posters and Publications.