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.
“Once people started to get infected and reinfected despite being vaccinated, their interpretation then is this vaccine doesn't work…. But [the COVID-19 vaccine] was never designed, studied, tested, or released to protect against infection.” --Ambassador Deborah Birx, MD
The updated vaccines are projected to offer strong defense against the presently circulating COVID-19 variants. Who should be vaccinated?
The "Strategies to Prevent Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections" document has been updated by the Compendium of Strategies to Prevent Health Care-Associated Infections. It is sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology and developed by over 100 experts from various organizations.
September is Sepsis Awareness Month, and a recently published study examines what patients and health care workers know—and fear—about sepsis.
A recent survey aimed to understand Americans' concerns and knowledge about hospitalization. Infection Control Today speaks to 2 of the authors.
Assisted living facilities face distinct challenges when it comes to infection prevention and control due to their unique nature.
This guide aims to assist hospitals in identifying and managing sepsis at an earlier stage. ICT interviews 1 of the authors.
With malaria making headlines, infection prevention specialists and other IPC professionals seek answers. To provide clarity, ICT® has consulted with 2 experts in the field.
Visible-light continuous environmental disinfection system reduces microbial contamination and surgical site infections, as noted in an AJIC study. Experts explain the study and the technology.
Neal Buchalter, MBA, president of Parker Laboratories, spoke with Infection Control Today® in an exclusive interview about the product, the companies involved, and how it came to the US market.
As an oversight agency for the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Inspector General is responsible for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of Medicare and Medicaid programs, with a huge priority being patient care. These toolkits provide additional guidance on how to avoid patient injury.
A relatively new threat, the Candida auris fungus has become a dangerous agent due to its ability to form biofilms, which help it survive and spread infections within the environment.
Experts discuss how implementation science integrates research findings and evidence-based guidelines into health care services to improve quality and effectiveness.
A presentation at the APIC 2023 annual conference was about reducing the unnecessary treatment of asymptomatic bacteria, and the presenters shared some of the successful strategies they have implemented at their hospital.
Association of periOperative Registered Nurses received recognition from the Denver Business Journal for its efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion within its program that aims to improve nurses’ ability to address health disparities among underserved patient populations.
For effective communication, infection preventionists and construction crews must understand each other's professional terminology. A resource tracer can be developed to ensure that both teams communicate the proper completion of work.
New Haven's infection prevention department created a procedure to identify and manage COVID-19 cases in BH units based on literature findings about how it spreads.
What are risk assessments? How are they done? Two experts explained them in an entertaining and informative presentation at the APIC 2023 conference in Orlando, Florida.
Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) can cause harm to patients or even lead to fatalities, while also resulting in additional expenses for hospitals.
Reducing tests has benefits like better antibiotic use and fewer hospital infections. It can also prevent some cases of catheter-associated UTIs.
To celebrate 40 years, the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology wants to showcase the certification milestones on their website.
Infection Control Today speaks with the CEO of Blue Water Biotech about how to get around antimicrobial resistance and why there may not be a need for more antibiotic creation.
Lifetime's new short film educates viewers on preventing meningitis B, which can cause the devastating loss of loved ones and features Soleil Moon Frye and Melissa Joan Hart.
In this third installment of the interview, managers at Sage Memorial Hospital describe how the OhmniLab robots have become part of their team, complete with Navajo names.
Karen Hoffmann, MS, RN, CIC, FSHEA, FAPIC, will be honored with the Carole DeMille Achievement Award during the 2023 APIC conference in Orlando, Florida, held June 26 to 28, 2023. She also discusses the poster she will be presenting.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the infection prevention field had to think outside the box they were used to. The Navajo Nation was no different. Outside their box, they found UV-C robots.
The FDA released a draft guideline for creating and distributing tattoo inks to prevent microorganisms from tainting the inks and causing severe infections. They are asking for input.
Investigators studied the risk factors for surgical site infections after abdominal hysterectomy procedures using NHSN data and diagnosis codes from administrative data.
What is the CDC's Antimicrobial Resistance Funding map? A key opinion leader explains.
Listen to how a doctor in rehabilitation who works with patients with brain and neurologic injuries is now working with patients with long COVID.