Having a booth or visiting a booth at the APIC Trade Show gives a great opportunity to mingle about infection control and explore new opportunities. It benefits the Infection Preventionist as well as the vendor.  As a vendor, we gain great insight into what Infection Preventionists really care about and what needs are not being met.  Despite what most think, it's not all about making sales- it's about making relationships.

IPs benefit too.  Infection Preventionists can see what current technologies are being used, share valuable feedback to vendors and even give ideas for future products/technologies.  The relationship between vendor and Infection Preventionist should be a partnership.

Too often people avoid the trade show portion of APIC because of the "sales" environment.  Although that environment still exists, it is necessary for the hospital representatives to fill in the gaps of infection control programs.  A new product, technology or process could make the difference between an effective program and one that doesn't gain any results.