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.
In 2023, the CDC released Sepsis Core Elements to improve sepsis recognition, management, and patient recovery. A recent survey shows increases in U.S. hospitals with sepsis committees, dedicated program time, and Antibiotic Stewardship Program involvement.
A Memorial Healthcare study shows updated C difficile testing guidelines led to a 20% reduction in inappropriate tests, improving diagnostic accuracy and preventing unnecessary treatments.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros declared the outbreak of monkeypox in DRC and other African countries a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. APIC provides a tool for infection preventionists and epidemiologists.
Advanced photohydrolysis technology offers continuous disinfection, combating hospital-acquired infections and antimicrobial resistance. Safe and cost-effective, it significantly reduces health care-associated infections.
A health care expert, Mark Povroznik, PharmD, discusses the impact of UV-C disinfection and advanced technologies in reducing infections, highlighting collaborative efforts and best practices in infection prevention and control.
Check out Infection Control Today's PowerPoint that explains updates to the long-term care enhanced barrier precautions (EBP) requirements from the CMS.
The updated ANSI/AAMI ST24 standard outlines requirements for ethylene oxide sterilizers in health care, addressing advancements, regulatory changes, and new technology to enhance sterilization practices and safety.
June is CMV Awareness Month, and infection preventionists are urged to focus on transmission, symptoms, and prevention of this widespread yet often overlooked viral infection.
TigerConnect's secure text-based platform, led by Will O'Connor, MD, reduces noise, minimizes wait times, and improves patient care through efficient clinical workflow coordination and nurse burnout alleviation.
Michael L. Kaufman, PhD, MSW, discusses his book, which challenges the notion that compassion in helping professions limits career ambition, emphasizing that it's possible to achieve both professional success and societal impact.
Leslie Kollmann, BS, CVT, CIC, speaks with Infection Control Today about veterinary infection prevention at the APIC Conference and Exposition held in San Antonio, Texas, from June 3 to 5, 2024.
Negative perceptions of safety climate among nurses are linked to reduced adherence to standard precautions, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve patient safety culture.
Infection preventionists can now streamline policy management with APIC’s PolicyPro, a subscription-based platform offering customizable, evidence-based IPC policies for health care facilities.
A study at the 2024 APIC conference observed MRSA and Pseudomonas contamination in a new children's outpatient pulmonary clinic during construction and after patient use, highlighting significant infection risks.
Brooke Hossfeld MPH, CIC, MLS (ASCP)CM presented the need for standardized infection prevention protocols across health care settings, addressing challenges from retiring workers to HAIs infections in outpatient facilities at APIC24.
Infection Control Today sat down with Tania Bubb, PhD, RN, CIC, FAPIC, the president of the 2024 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.
In-person training significantly improves health care workers' PPE practices and infection prevention knowledge, addressing gaps left by virtual methods and enhancing overall patient safety and care quality.
Sage Memorial Hospital, Navajo Health Foundation in Arizona tackles health care and infection control challenges through innovative strategies and cultural sensitivity, serving the Navajo community with respect and resilience.
Tampa General Hospital's ECMO-specific infection prevention protocol eradicated bloodstream infections, reducing rates from 36% to 0%, demonstrating the effectiveness of tailored infection control measures in high-risk patients.
Memorial Hermann Hospital's targeted screening and isolation protocol for Candida auris significantly reduces patient exposure and spread, effectively ensuring safety and preventing health care-associated infections.
The ICER Collaborative addresses IPC gaps for EMS and firefighters, enhancing infection control through tailored training, advisory boards, and interagency collaboration based on year-1 findings as presented at APIC24.
Dry hydrogen peroxide (DHP) significantly reduces surface bioburden in long-term care facilities, enhancing infection control and lowering volatile organic compounds, as presented by Mary L. Cole, MS, RN, CNRN, CCRN, SCRN, CIC, at APIC24.
Andrea Flinchum, 2024 president of Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, INC (CBIC) explains the AL-CIP Certification at APIC Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas.
APIC24: A Texas health care system's study found that electronic notifications and self-assessments for communicable disease exposure significantly improve efficiency and adherence in managing health care worker exposures.
A presentation at APIC 2024 will feature strategies for combating emerging pathogens, emphasizing preparedness for infection preventionists amid rising global health threats, including dengue, measles, and new unknown pathogens.
IPs discuss APIC's white paper, which highlights IPs frustrations with outdated and unclear medical device IFUs and the challenges they face.
APIC and IPAC Canada introduce the EIPAC Decision-Making Framework to guide health care professionals through ethical dilemmas in infection prevention, promoting fair and transparent decision-making.
At HSPA 2024, Lila Price, CRCST, CER, CHL, and Dannie O. Smith, III, BSc, CSPDT, CRCST, CHL, CIS, CER, emphasized accurate instrument labeling and demonstrated a game to improve communication between the operating room and sterile processing departments.
Phase III trial of zoliflodacin shows it as effective as current treatments for uncomplicated gonorrhea, highlighting its potential in combating rising antibiotic resistance.
A new medical device uses microneedles and a suction cup to simplify blood sampling. It aids needle-phobic patients and benefits low-income regions with cost-effective diagnostics.
