Prevention

Health care has an unmet need for the treatment of herpesviruses, hepatitis B, and hepatitis D, which would enhance patient outcomes. What should be done, and what challenges do companies that are trying to develop treatments face?

Staying Ahead with Company Updates and Product Innovations. Read the news from PerfectClean, the FDA, and the CDC.

Noah Wald-Dickler, MD, FACP, discusses the safety and efficacy of oral transition therapy, challenges in antimicrobial stewardship, and evidence-based alternatives presented at SHEA 2024.

Opinion: Kevin Kavanagh, MD, examines a summary of studies on how COVID-19 may damage the brain's frontal lobes, alter personality traits and cognitive functions, and potentially reshape society's dynamics.

Cheri Ackert-Burr, DNP, BAEd, RN, CNOR, CNS, AGTS, discusses optimizing drying strategies for medical devices, crucial in instrument processing, emphasizing efficiency gains and insights shared at the HSPA Annual Conference.

A struggling infection preventionist seeks guidance on combatting monotony and finding fulfillment in their role amidst recurring challenges.

HSPA’s 2024-2025 president, Anthony Bondon, CRCST, CHL, BSM, AAS, SME, LSSYB, spoke with Infection Control Today to discuss his goals for his tenure and more.

Explore how Exeter Hospital revamped sustainability efforts, reducing waste, improving efficiency, and saving costs in the sterile processing department, as presented at HSPA 2024.

Discover how a playful, educational approach revolutionized continuous learning for a sterile processing department from a poster presented at the HSPA Conference 2024.

Check out the highlights so far from Infection Control Today at the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association held in Las Vegas, Nevada, from April 20 to April 23, 2024.

The CMCVAMC Sterile Processing Services Department presents their roadmap for success at HSPA 2024, focusing on workflow, instrumentation, tools, tracking, and SOPs.

CSSD at Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital presents a poster at HSPA 2024, outlining efforts to streamline loaner equipment management for surgical efficiency.

Lisa Pawlowski, DNP, MSN-Ed, RN, CRMST, presents a poster at the HSPA 2024 Conference highlighting an evidence-based bundle that reduces SSIs by improving post-use instrument care and storage practices.

Explore the fusion of process monitoring and situation awareness in sterile processing, fostering informed decision-making for safe patient care from a presentation at HSPA24.

Amid escalating multidrug-resistant organism threats, hospitals face business risks and patient trust erosion, necessitating improved cleaning and infection prevention practices.

Tisha Mitsunaga, DrPH, ScM, discusses innovative approaches fostering collaboration between public health and healthcare facilities to combat multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) spread.

A study presented at the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) conference evaluated adherence to laxative administration guidelines before CDI testing in Veteran Affairs (VA) hospitals and explored associated demographic and contextual factors.

The FDA has accepted GSK's BLA for a 5-in-1 meningococcal vaccine candidate, which promises streamlined immunization and a potential reduction in invasive meningococcal disease (IMD).

Hospitals using CDC prevention strategies had different incidences of hospital-associated Clostridioides difficile infection compared to those that didn't, but the reasons are not necessarily the strategies themselves.

Ramon Zegpi Lagos, DVM, PhD, discusses H5N1 (avian flu), risks, transmission dynamics, preventive measures, and ongoing research at The Ohio State University.

Infection Control Today's Product Locator is a monthly column that highlights some of the latest advanced technology in infection prevention.

A JAMA study exposes the US healthcare system's staggering waste expenditure underlining challenges in managing diverse waste types and stringent regulations' compliance. What solutions are there?

Read on about how, as hospitals grapple with the costly burden of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as a game-changer in revolutionizing infection prevention strategies.

The role of infection preventionists (IPs) has evolved significantly over 75 years, from early surveillance of nosocomial infections to becoming data-driven experts navigating pandemics like COVID-19.

Merck's V116, a 21-valent pneumococcal vaccine, exhibits strong immunogenicity and coverage in diverse adult populations. Real-world data reveal its potential to combat pneumococcal diseases effectively.

Carole W. Kamangu, MPH, RN, CIC, shares her inspiring journey from the Democratic Republic of Congo to health care leadership in the US today. (This is the French translation of the interview with Carole W. Kamangu.)

Carole W. Kamangu, MPH, RN, CIC, shares her inspiring journey from the Democratic Republic of Congo to health care leadership in the US today.

A well-organized SPD not only keeps the surgical schedule on track but also minimizes backlogs and ensures the timely removal of bioburden—a crucial factor in preventing infections. To achieve this level of efficiency, attention to 5 pivotal areas is essential.

Bug of the Month helps educate readers about existing and emerging pathogens of clinical importance in health care facilities today.

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today®’s highlights for the week ending April 7, 2024.