AORN Global Surgical Conference & Expo

Sterile processing departments face high-stakes challenges daily. At AORN 2025, Marjorie Wall outlined transformative strategies to improve safety, efficiency, and cross-departmental collaboration, and also discussed HSPA 2025.

Sterile processing expert Kevin Anderson urges perioperative nurses to deepen collaboration with SPD teams to enhance OR efficiency, reduce SSIs, and improve patient outcomes.

ICT interviews Damien Berg, VP of strategic initiatives, who promises HSPA education, outreach, and growth. It will empower sterile processing professionals through standards updates, networking, and renewed purpose in patient safety.

Communication breakdowns between the operating room and central processing led to delays and frustration—until collaboration, cross-training, and shared goals turned metrics around and strengthened teamwork.

Occupational exposure to surgical smoke significantly alters biological and oxidative stress markers in operating room staff, highlighting urgent risks and the need for improved safety measures.

At AORN 2025, Dr. Michael Sinnott called for a unified safety culture—one that protects both patients and staff through shared responsibility, accountability, and systemic change.

Pennsylvania Hospital cut complex spinal fusion surgical site infections by over 31% through a multidisciplinary initiative focused on evidence-based interventions and collaborative surgical care.

A barcode-based tracking system for surgical instruments has slashed packing errors, boosted staff training, and dramatically improved patient safety through precise, real-time traceability.

John Kimsey’s interactive sterile processing department game bridges understanding between the operating room and sterile processing teams, promoting collaboration, hands-on learning, and improved patient safety through real-world simulation.

From April 5 to 8, 2025, thousands of perioperative nurses will gather in Boston for the 2025 AORN Global Surgical Conference & Expo—a transformational experience designed to elevate nursing practice, build lifelong connections, and advance surgical care.

Boston is a great place to go to conferences. But what else is there to do? Read on to find out!

Infection Control Today (ICT) had the privilege of catching up with Vangie Dennis, MSN, RN, CNOR, CMLSO, at the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Global Surgical Conference & Expo 2024. As the former president of AORN and an esteemed figure in perioperative services, Vangie Dennis shared insights into her recent endeavors and the exciting new chapter she's embarked upon.

Discover research by Peter Graves, BSN, RN, CNOR, and Maureen Spencer, MEd, RN, CIC, FAPIC, the lasting impact and hidden expenses of SSIs, shedding light on effective prevention strategies.

During AORN's 2024 conference, Michael Sinnott, MBBS, FACEM, FRACP, shared insights on enhancing safety education's impact. Learn how to engage audiences and ensure lasting lessons in health care instruction.

Here are 5 highlights from Infection Control Today®'s (ICT®’s) wide-ranging coverage of the infection prevention and control world. Everything from interviews with known opinion leaders to the news that infection preventionists and other health care professionals can use on their jobs.

Patient safety is as important as staff safety. Yet, how do health care instructors get others to remember their lessons? One presentation, given by Michael Sinnott, MBBS, FACEM, FRACP, at the AORN International Surgical Conference & Expo 2024, had a unique suggestion.

At the AORN’s International Surgical Conference & Expo 2024, a team from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) showcased their transformative project, "Becoming Smoke-Free in the OR." This initiative underscored the critical need for smoke evacuation in surgical settings.

As explained on a poster at AORN 2024, perioperative nurses and infection preventionists unite in a proactive campaign to elevate hand hygiene within the operating room, resulting in improved adherence, decreased infections, and fortified patient outcomes.

Do operating room personnel understand the complexities of the sterile processing department? They rely on the sterile processing department for surgical instruments, but are they aware of its complexities and requirements?

Amidst the complex dance of scalpels and sterile fields in surgical theaters, a silent guardian stands vigilant—the surgical infection preventionist. Poster author, Charles Vickery, Jr, BSN, RN, CIC, CRST, of AdventHealth Central Florida, unveils the indispensable role of this health care sentinel at AORN's International Surgical Conference & Expo 2024.

At the AORN’s International Surgical Conference & Expo 2024, a presentation on surgical smoke drew applause and strong emotion about the continuing fight for legislation on removing surgical smoke from operating rooms. Infection Control Today was there to tell you what happened.

In the dynamic world of infection prevention and control (IPC), Erica Smith knows perioperative nursing and infection prevention. With a passion for supporting surgery centers and independent ASCs, her upcoming presentation dives deep into the common mistakes and challenges faced in IPC practices.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are not getting documented as often as they occur, and the financial toll could be staggering. Two experts presented about what can be done to reduce SSIs on this topic and then spoke with Infection Control Today at the Association for PeriOperative Nurses (AORN) held in San Antonio, Texas, on April 1-4, 2023.

Two investigators from Australia spoke with ICT about how management tools can overcome health care worker reluctance and implement OR safety improvements.

In an education session at the 2023 Association of the PeriOperative Nurses (AORN), Sheri Voss, MS, RN, CNOR (Emeritus), taught attendees about factors affecting operational performance in the operating room and what can be done about them.

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today®’s highlights for the week ending April 9, 2023.

Since The Netherlands has the most rigorous standards for operating room air quality in the world, it was the perfect place to test if the air quality concept created by Maximuse fulfilled the governmental requirement. These results were presented the 2023 AORN conference.

One focus of the 2023 Association of PeriOperative Nurses (AORN) 2023 Conference in San Antonio, Texas, was ambulatory health care, and ICT spoke to presenters on the importance of emergency preparedness drills.

Vangie Dennis, MSN, RN, CNOR, CMLSO, president of the Association of PeriOperative Nurses (AORN), discusses the goals she and the Board of Directors reached during her tenure, the future of AORN, and the annual conference in San Antonio, Texas.