The first day as an infection preventionist can be nerve wracking, but what happens when The Joint Commission is there the same day?
In this installment of Building Bridges in Infection Prevention, what a mattress mistake can cost both patient and facility.
Time, staff, and budget constraints make it difficult to expand HAI mitigation programs despite the obvious and urgent need to do so.
Artificial intelligence may be revolutionizing sepsis detection and diagnosis, but can we trust it without strong regulatory guardrails? As AI/ML-enabled medical devices rapidly evolve, IPs must stay informed and involved to ensure safety keeps pace with innovation. Let’s take a closer look at how to advocate for innovative safe implementation.
Robust infectious disease surveillance, including rapid subtyping of influenza A, is essential for early detection, containment, and public health reporting of novel viral threats.
Oral care is vital in reducing hospital-acquired pneumonia risks. Health care workers' education, evidence-based protocols, and accessible supplies enhance patient outcomes and prevent complications in health care settings.
As drug-resistant infections rise, infection preventionists must look beyond outdated disinfectants. HOCl offers a safer, sustainable solution that has been proven effective, residue-free, and ready for health care use today.
As infectious diseases resurge in 2024, this article explores how IPs can manage outbreaks, allocate resources, use technology for surveillance, and collaborate with senior leaders to ensure business continuity and patient safety in health care settings.
Charles P. Gerba, PhD: “Unfortunately, standard procedures for testing and registration by regulatory agencies of CADs (continuously active sanitizers or disinfectants) as disinfectants useful in preventing exposure to disease causing microorganism transmission has only taken place in recent years.”
Even the most rigorous infection prevention protocols come unraveled if compliance isn’t maintained. The challenge is that for busy health care professionals, remembering when and how to disinfect is just one of many competing tasks in an extremely busy day.
Explore why CMS must expand COVID-19, influenza, and RSV reporting to include hospital-onset infections, health care worker cases, and ER trends, driving proactive prevention and patient safety.
Stethoscope diaphragms are contaminated with the same pathogens as the hands and they are capable of transmitting pathogens from patient to patient. The CDC should readdress its published guidelines.
Infection prevention in pediatrics is crucial to keep babies and children healthy. Some of the main tools are hand washing and vaccinations; however, there is more to do.
Ellie Wishart, BSc, Real World Evidence Manager at Ecolab discusses the role of industry partners in the Clean Hospitals initiative and taking part in the International Clean Hospitals Day Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, on October 20, 2022.
The shape and material composition of the N95 respirators varied widely from manufacturer to manufacturer, which can result in variations in the efficacy of a particular method from one product to the next.
Rooted in ancient rituals of renewal, spring-cleaning has evolved from cultural tradition to a vital infection prevention strategy in modern hospitals—one that blends seasonal deep cleaning with advanced disinfection to reduce pathogens, improve air quality, and protect patients.
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, infection preventionists, nurses, environmental services personnel, and other health care workers cannot forget about C auris.
IPs can provide valuable input on construction projects, water safety, and ventilation.
Clinical Laboratory Science has journeyed from its 1930s roots to become a cornerstone of hospital medicine—powering everything from life-saving diagnoses to advanced molecular testing. But its story isn’t just about history; it’s a roadmap for how other critical fields, like infection prevention, can build strong, standardized pathways for the next generation of professionals. Now is the time to learn from CLS’s evolution and start shaping the future of IPC.
During delivery, babies can acquire infections if they come into contact with pathogens present in the birth canal or from the mother’s genital tract.
This Sunday, July 28, is World Hepatitis Day, a time to raise awareness and support research for infection prevention and treatment.
Accurate device information and proper sterilization or disinfection are crucial to ensure safety during ultrasound procedures.
Lassa fever causes 5000 deaths a year. What should health care workers and the public know about this rare disease, and what is done to treat it?
Patients undergoing dialysis are especially vulnerable to infection due to weakened immunity, invasive access procedures, and frequent hospitalizations, making stringent infection control essential.
Recent research in the American Journal of Infection Control reveals gaps in routine hospital disinfection, highlighting the need for UV-C audits. Learn how to validate UV-C dosages effectively and conduct successful audits.
Will Duffy’s Final Experiment highlights the importance of experience in changing minds. Public health can use similar methods to improve vaccine confidence and counter misinformation.
Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, discusses 3 uncommon yet highly infectious eye diseases, emphasizing the importance of timely treatment and preventative measures.
Effective sterile processing leadership requires active engagement, clear communication, and a transformational approach to foster collaboration, accountability, and quality in infection prevention and surgical instrument management.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not protect against norovirus, a highly contagious virus. Effective alternatives like hypochlorous acid-based sanitizers are crucial for better infection control.