Featured Articles

Protective equipment, including surgical masks, gloves, wipes, and sanitizer, is arranged on a table for virus prevention and safety measures.  (Adobe Stock2020000743 by rungnapha)

The global infection control supplies market is projected to grow from $58.5 billion in 2026 to $106.1 billion by 2035 as healthcare systems invest more heavily in infection prevention, sterilization technologies, PPE, and automated disinfection solutions. Driven by rising healthcare-associated infections, aging populations, chronic disease burden, and increasing regulatory pressure, the market is evolving toward smarter, technology-enabled infection prevention strategies across hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and outpatient care settings.

Ebola virus structure close up (Adobe Stock 1823506847 By Andry)

Test your infection prevention and control knowledge with this IPC-themed crossword puzzle featuring terms and concepts related to hand hygiene, sterilization, PPE, outbreak prevention, and health care-associated infections. Designed for health care professionals, the puzzle offers an engaging way to reinforce key IPC principles while promoting education and awareness.

IP LifeLine From Infection Control Today

This 6-part series chronicles the journey of 2 infection prevention leaders, Brenna Doran and Jessica Swain, who partnered to research and shed light on the critical issue of IP staffing in the current health care landscape. The fourth article in the series will focus on the impact of geographic variations and staffing models on the support for infection prevention programs.

Cleaning systems for medical instruments. Ultrasonic cleaner  (Adobe Stock 136854229 By flywish)

When sterile instruments look perfect but hidden soil remains, patient safety is at risk. In this in-depth ICT article, Marjorie Wall, EDBA, CRCST, CIS, CHL, CSSBB, explains why ultrasonic cleaning is not just equipment, but a critical quality system, and how failures in cavitation, lumen flushing, or water quality can quietly undermine infection prevention in the operating room and sterile processing department.

Survey special blue banner background  (Adobe Stock 216473756By FR Design)

Infection prevention professionals are weighing in on the CDC’s updated vaccine schedule. An ICT survey reveals mixed familiarity, rising patient questions, and a strong call for clearer guidance and communication tools. Here’s what IPC leaders say about implementation, confidence, and the real-world impact of vaccine policy changes.

The Clean Bite by Sherrie Busby

Cold, flu, RSV, and COVID-19 are still circulating, but many people have stopped paying attention. This article breaks down how to recognize the differences between common respiratory illnesses, explains overlapping symptoms, and outlines practical steps health care and dental professionals can take to reduce transmission. From hand hygiene and masking to staying home when sick and vaccination awareness, the piece reinforces why everyday prevention still matters during respiratory virus season.

Hair Transplant Operation Process with Surgeon.  (Adobe Stock 598067700 by Ivan)

What if sterile gloves are not always the safest or smartest choice? Evidence from dermatologic surgery suggests nonsterile gloves can deliver comparable infection outcomes in low-risk procedures while saving tens of thousands of dollars annually. This analysis asks whether hair restoration surgery deserves the same evidence-based reexamination.

Eastern Bloodsucking Conenose Kissing Bug, Triatoma sanguisuga, an insect transmits Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi, which bite humans in the face, around the mouth or eyes, 4 views  (Adobe Stock 818249386 by Chase D’Animulls)

Chagas disease is an emerging concern in Florida, where infected kissing bugs, wildlife reservoirs, and underdiagnosis intersect with migration and congenital transmission risks. This article outlines the epidemiology, women’s health implications, and practical infection prevention strategies, calling for risk-based screening, stronger surveillance, and community-engaged prevention to reduce morbidity and prevent congenital cases.

The Merry Microbe: The First Ever ICT Holiday Games Booklet 2025

To celebrate and thank the infection prevention community, Infection Control Today® introduces The Merry Microbe, a festive holiday games booklet filled with quizzes, puzzles, and crosswords designed to educate, engage, and bring a little joy to the vital work of keeping health care environments safe.

Conversations With the President HSPA President, Arlene Bush, CRCST, CIS, CHL, SME, DSMD, CRMST

HSPA President Arlene Bush believes the sterile processing profession is stronger—and more essential—than ever. From expanding public awareness to evolving standards and global reach, Bush says the field is driven by dedicated professionals who “do amazing things, 365 days a year,” and deserve recognition for their expertise, resilience, and impact on patient safety.

Second installment on the Panel on Linens.  Image: Stacked Clean White Sheets and Surgical Clothes in an Industrial Laundry Setting.  (Adobe Stock 834864411 by Anastasiia)

As hospitals search for new ways to reduce environmental bioburden, copper-embedded textiles are emerging as a promising tool. In this second installment of ICT's recent panel discussion, experts described how these soft, everyday fabrics can rapidly kill microbes, sustain their effectiveness between washes, and strengthen infection control bundles across care settings.

An infection preventionist walking into a hospital  (AI image by Brayden Unger)

As financial pressures mount across U.S. health care, infection preventionists are increasingly caught in the crossfire of hiring freezes and sudden layoffs. The profession’s resilience is being tested, and for Saba Shaikh, MPH, an unexpected dismissal became both a stark wake-up call and the start of a healthier, more empowering new chapter.