Beginning with volume 43 (2022), the cover of Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology (ICHE) features art inspired by or reflective of topics within the scope of the journal and their impact on patients, healthcare personnel and society. These topics include healthcare-associated infections, antimicrobial resistance, and healthcare epidemiology. The intent is to feature original artwork that has been created by individuals who have a personal connection to one or more of these topics. This connection may be through clinical work or research, or through personal experience as a patient or an affected patient’s family member, friend or advocate. The goal of this new cover art initiative is to provide readers with a visual reminder of the human impact of the topics addressed in the journal and the importance of the work being done by those who are trying to make healthcare safer through the elimination of healthcare-associated infections.

The 2023 cover features original art by Nile Moss, a high school student who died of sepsis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that he had acquired while receiving care in a local hospital. This piece was inspired by the love Nile had for his horses, Tex and Clutch. David P. Calfee, MD, MS, the Editor-in-Chief of ICHE, stated, “This artwork serves as a reminder of the human impact of healthcare-acquired infections and the need for additional research and more effective implementation of proven infection prevention strategies in order to make our healthcare facilities safer. I’m grateful to Nile’s parents for sharing his art with us and hope that by featuring his artwork on our cover we can honor his life and his legacy by inspiring readers to continue their important work in infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship.”

This artwork was submitted to ICHE by Nile’s parents, Carole and Ty Moss, who are the founders and Executive Directors of Nile’s Project, a non-profit organization founded in 2007 to end unnecessary deaths due to preventable hospital-acquired infections. Nile’s Project works with survivors, families, healthcare professionals, public health officials, and other advocacy groups to increase public awareness and advocate for changes that will make the healthcare system safer. For more information, please visit www.nilesproject.com.

ICHE invites artists to submit their work for consideration for the cover of volume 45.

Paintings, drawings, photography, and other forms of art that could be adequately represented on the journal cover will be considered. Factors that will be taken into account during the selection process include the art, the artist’s submitted narrative information, subject relevance, and the diversity of selected art and artist over time. Please visit the ICHE front covers webpage for information about submitting your art work and to learn about the current and past ICHE covers. The selected art and artist will be announced at IDWeek 2023.