Tori Whitacre Martonicz, MA, is the lead editor of Infection Control Today. She has been a writer and editor for over 30 years and has an MA and BA in English Composition/Literature from the University of Akron in Akron, OH. She lives in Ohio with her husband, Eric; son, Drake; 2 tiny dogs, Selena Brigid Sophia and Doctor Danger Dog; and a big black cat, Freya. She loves reading, writing, gardening, and spending time with her loved ones.
Contact her through her email: tmartonicz@mjhlifesciences.com.
Breaking Down Silos: Why Infection Prevention Needs Cross-Departmental Support
August 29th 2025Fewer than 14% of infection prevention departments receive staffing support from other hospital units, leaving infection preventionists stretched thin. Experts warn that this lack of collaboration undermines patient safety and strains already limited resources.
Infection Preventionists Under Strain: More Work, Fewer Resources
August 28th 2025This installment of the interview with study authors, survey data reveal rising hours and responsibilities for infection preventionists, with staffing shortages fueling burnout risks and threatening the safety of both patients and health care workers.
FDA Authorization: Raising the Bar for UVC Disinfection in Health Care
August 27th 2025As hospitals turn to UVC technology to combat health care-associated infections, a new FDA mandate is changing the game—requiring formal authorization for devices that claim to reduce microbial contamination. For infection preventionists and health care leaders, understanding this regulatory shift is now essential to protecting patients and ensuring compliance.
Honoring Those Who Shape the Future: Nominate the 2025 ICT Educator of the Year
August 18th 2025Behind every skilled infection preventionist is an educator who lit the spark. If you know someone who’s shaping the future of safety—1 glove, 1 lecture, 1 student at a time—nominate them now for ICT’s 2025 Educator of the Year.
Learn How Communication Shapes Pandemic Preparedness—Health Watch USA 2025
August 15th 2025Clear communication is not just important in a pandemic—it’s everything. In a preview of his upcoming Health Watch USA presentation, William Schaffner, MD, shares lessons from COVID-19 on building trust, keeping messages simple, and acknowledging uncertainty.
Your Leadership Deserves Recognition—Apply Now for AL-CIP
August 8th 2025If you’ve led projects that measurably improved infection prevention and control, it’s time to showcase your impact. The Advanced Leadership Certification in Infection Prevention & Control (AL-CIP) recognizes experienced professionals whose vision, innovation, and expertise have made a difference locally, nationally, or globally.
Beyond Hand Hygiene: The 5 Critical Moments for Environmental Disinfection in Health Care
August 7th 2025A group of experts highlight their infection control model, which highlights 5 key moments for disinfecting high-touch surfaces in patient care, aiming to reduce health care–associated infections and improve patient safety.
UV Device Confusion: Why Hospitals Must Ask the Right Regulatory Questions
August 7th 2025Are your UV-C disinfection systems FDA-compliant? Infection preventionists play a crucial role in ensuring devices meet regulatory standards. A simple conversation with your legal or compliance team today could prevent costly missteps tomorrow and help safeguard patient safety.
Fuel Immunity First: How to Use Nutrition to Stay Ahead of Infection
August 5th 2025Infection prevention starts long before exposure; it begins with what we put into our bodies. This article series explores how key vitamins and nutrients like D, C, zinc, and more can strengthen immune defenses, reduce respiratory illness severity, and empower infection preventionists with evidence-based strategies to support overall health from the inside out.
Metrex Celebrates 40 Years of Infection Prevention Excellence
July 29th 2025At APIC 2025, Metrex Research marked a major milestone—4 decades of partnering with infection preventionists. Infection Control Today caught up with Senior Marketing Manager Cheryl Collins, MPH, and clinical advisor Sharon Ward-Fore, MS, MT(ASCP), CIC, FAPIC, to talk legacy, innovation, and why supporting IPs will always be at the heart of what Metrex does best.
Sharps Safety Starts with Us: Why Infection Preventionists Must Lead the Charge
July 28th 2025Sharps injuries remain a silent but serious threat in health care that infection preventionists are uniquely equipped to confront. With underreporting widespread and safety devices underused, it’s time for IPs to step into a leadership role, using their expertise in systems thinking, education, and policy to build a culture where staff protection is as prioritized as patient care.
Breaking the Cycle of Silence: Why Sharps Injuries Go Unreported and What Can Be Done
Published: July 24th 2025 | Updated: July 23rd 2025Despite decades of progress in health care safety, a quiet but dangerous culture still lingers: many health care workers remain afraid to report sharps injuries, fearing blame more than the wound itself.
Flawed From the Start: Why Many IFUs for Surgical Instruments Fail in Real-World Sterile Processing
July 23rd 2025At the 2025 HSPA Annual Conference & Expo, Cori L. Ofstead, MSPH, highlighted critical flaws in manufacturers’ instructions for use (IFUs) for orthopedic and neurosurgical instruments. From contradictory directions to unrealistic cleaning expectations, these IFUs often fail under real-world conditions, jeopardizing both patient safety and sterile processing workflows.
From Awareness to Action: Educating Staff on Sharps Safety Standards
July 23rd 2025Sharps safety in health care isn’t just about knowing the rules—it’s about changing the culture. In a recent interview with Infection Control Today®, perioperative educator Amanda Heitman shares how fostering a supportive, informed environment can turn safety standards into daily practice.
Pathogen Pulse: Facilities Need the SPD, Yersinia Enterocolitica Outbreak, and More
July 22nd 2025From unsterilized surgical tools in Colorado to a years-long methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) outbreak in Virginia and a surging measles crisis in Canada, recent headlines reveal the fragile front lines of infection prevention and the high stakes when systems fail.
Championing Surgical Safety: A Perioperative Nurse’s Perspective on Infection Prevention
Published: July 22nd 2025 | Updated: July 23rd 2025Amanda Heitman, BSN, RN, CNOR, a perioperative nurse with over 20 years' experience and member of Infection Control Today® Editorial Advisory Board, has dedicated her career to patient safety and surgical excellence. Learn more about her path to where she is now.
Sharps Safety Starts With Communication, Not Just Devices
July 21st 2025Sharps safety in health care goes far beyond personal protective equipment. Amanda Heitman outlines a layered strategy of training, communication, and device innovation aimed at reducing needlestick injuries in even the busiest clinical environments.
Reducing Hidden Risks: Why Sharps Injuries Still Go Unreported
July 18th 2025Despite being a well-known occupational hazard, sharps injuries continue to occur in health care facilities and are often underreported, underestimated, and inadequately addressed. A recent interview with sharps safety advocate Amanda Heitman, BSN, RN, CNOR, a perioperative educational consultant, reveals why change is overdue and what new tools and guidance can help.
New Study Explores Oral Vancomycin to Prevent C difficile Recurrence, But Questions Remain
July 17th 2025A new clinical trial explores the use of low-dose oral vancomycin to prevent Clostridioides difficile recurrence in high-risk patients taking antibiotics. While the data suggest a possible benefit, the findings stop short of statistical significance and raise red flags about vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), underscoring the delicate balance between prevention and antimicrobial stewardship.
What Lies Beneath: Why Borescopes Are Essential for Verifying Surgical Instrument Cleanliness
July 16th 2025Despite their smooth, polished exteriors, surgical instruments often harbor dangerous contaminants deep inside their lumens. At the HSPA25 and APIC25 conferences, Cori L. Ofstead, MSPH, and her colleagues revealed why borescopes are an indispensable tool for sterile processing teams, offering the only reliable way to verify internal cleanliness and improve sterile processing effectiveness to prevent patient harm.
All About APIC’s New Guide That Tackles All Catheter-Associated Bloodstream Infections
July 15th 2025APIC’s updated guide shifts the focus from CLABSIs to all catheter-associated bloodstream infections, offering infection preventionists a comprehensive approach to reducing bacteremia and enhancing patient safety.
The Next Frontier in Infection Control: AI-Driven Operating Rooms
Published: July 15th 2025 | Updated: July 15th 2025Discover how AI-powered sensors, smart surveillance, and advanced analytics are revolutionizing infection prevention in the OR. Herman DeBoard, PhD, discusses how these technologies safeguard sterile fields, reduce SSIs, and help hospitals balance operational efficiency with patient safety.
Targeting Uncertainty: Why Pregnancy May Be the Best Time to Build Vaccine Confidence
July 15th 2025New national survey data reveal high uncertainty among pregnant individuals—especially first-time parents—about vaccinating their future children, underscoring the value of proactive engagement to strengthen infection prevention.