News

Environmental surfaces remain a critical but often invisible component of infection prevention. In this Q&A, experts discuss how real-time microbial visualization technology may help infection preventionists and environmental services teams identify contamination risks, validate cleaning efforts, and improve environmental surveillance beyond traditional methods.

How plastic‑free wipes are helping hospitals reduce waste while delivering disinfecting performance.

Over the past 30 years, as infection outbreaks, rapid service expansion, and increasingly complex medical devices transformed the landscape, sterile processing rose to the challenge by standardizing, modernizing, and innovating to keep patients safe.

A large real-world study involving more than 430,000 adults aged 65 years and older found comparable effectiveness between adjuvanted and high-dose influenza vaccines, reinforcing current ACIP recommendations and giving health care systems greater flexibility during vaccine procurement and influenza season planning. In this Q&A, Mendel Haag, PhD, senior director of the Center of Outcomes Research & Epidemiology in global medical affairs at CSL Seqirus, discusses vaccine confidence, influenza misinformation, operational barriers to vaccination, and why ongoing real-world evidence remains critical for protecting vulnerable older adult populations.

A new study from leaders at ChristianaCare is shining a spotlight on the growing need for greater autonomy, stronger leadership development, and increased recognition for sterile processing departments within healthcare systems. Researchers found that 43% of SPD professionals reported pressure to bypass sterilization protocols due to operational demands, raising concerns about safety culture, staffing, and perioperative decision-making. In this interview, Kevin M. Bush Jr, EdD, DHSc, MSHA, MA, FACHE, CPHRM, CPHQ, CPPS, CIC, CHES; and Brandon Gantt, DHSc, MHA, LSSGBH, discuss their study and why SPD must be recognized as a clinical safety partner central to infection prevention, surgical safety, and patient outcomes.

Sterile processing departments (SPD) are increasingly being pushed beyond reactive maintenance models as equipment failures, workflow disruptions, and tray defects continue to impact surgical readiness and patient safety. This article explores why SPD may be uniquely positioned for an AI-driven predictive maintenance revolution, examining how systems thinking, IoT integration, human factors research, and real-time equipment monitoring could help reduce disruptions before failures occur. The piece also highlights the growing shift toward treating maintenance as a strategic reliability function tied directly to infection prevention, OR efficiency, and operational resilience across health care systems.

The MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak exposed a critical surveillance gap: by the time official alerts were issued, exposed passengers had already dispersed across multiple countries. This article explores how infection preventionists can use emerging open-source dashboards, real-time data aggregation tools, and internal informatics systems to bridge the dangerous lag between exposure events and actionable public health intelligence. From cruise ship outbreaks to facility-level exposures, the piece examines how digital surveillance may help IPs shift from reactive outbreak reconstruction to faster, proactive containment strategies.

The 2026 Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak is rapidly escalating across the DRC and Uganda, exposing how fragile global outbreak preparedness becomes when surveillance systems, community engagement programs, and frontline public health infrastructure are allowed to erode. This article examines how delayed detection, funding cuts, weakened infection prevention capacity, and growing community resistance are complicating containment efforts for a strain with no approved vaccine or targeted treatment. The outbreak is becoming a stark reminder that global health security depends on sustained investment long before the next emergency begins.

A 7-year study at a 1,900-bed academic medical center in Singapore found no epidemiological link between contaminated endoscopes and postprocedural bloodstream infections, despite routine microbiological surveillance detecting residual contamination.

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.

The 2026 Ebola outbreak is forcing infection prevention teams to confront a difficult question: Are hospitals truly prepared for a high-consequence infectious disease event today? With the rare Bundibugyo strain spreading across Central Africa and no licensed vaccine or approved treatment available, experts say now is the time for facilities to reopen, review, and test the HCID response plans many have not touched since 2015.

The 2026 Ebola outbreak has now spread to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, with the WHO reporting more than 513 cases and over 130 suspected deaths linked to the Bundibugyo strain, which currently has no approved vaccine or treatment. This article examines the outbreak through both a global health and infection prevention lens, highlighting concerns over weakened public health infrastructure, CDC staffing cuts, reduced USAID funding, and lessons still unlearned from prior Ebola and COVID-19 responses. Experts warn that while widespread US transmission remains unlikely, early investment in global outbreak response is critical to preventing future public health emergencies.

Candida auris continues to challenge infection prevention programs worldwide as cases rise across health care settings and multidrug resistance limits treatment options. In this article, Ayaz Majid, PhD, director of product management at Diasorin, explores why rapid molecular diagnostics are becoming essential tools for identifying colonized patients, supporting isolation protocols, and helping health care facilities prevent outbreaks before they spread.

The article examines a recent hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship on the Atlantic Ocean and explains why experts say it is unlikely to become another COVID-19-style pandemic. It reviews how hantaviruses spread, the severe clinical syndromes they can cause, current prevention and infection control measures, and the urgent need for better diagnostics, treatments, vaccines, and surveillance as concerns grow over rare person-to-person transmission involving the Andes virus.

Sterile processing departments are often called the invisible backbone of surgical care, but a recent investigation involving Penn State Health and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center highlights what can happen when those systems come under pressure. Reports of contaminated instrument trays, sterilization backlogs, staffing strain, and communication breakdowns are raising broader questions about patient safety, infection prevention infrastructure, and operational priorities across health care. ***Updated with an answer from Penn State Health.

A hantavirus outbreak linked to a South American cruise ship is drawing global attention, but experts say fears of a COVID-19-style pandemic are largely unsupported. Infectious disease physician Matthew Pullen, MD, discusses Andes virus transmission, misinformation, cruise ship risks, and what health care professionals should really be watching for.

A rare hantavirus outbreak linked to a South American cruise ship is drawing global attention, but experts say fears of a COVID-19-style pandemic are largely unsupported. Infectious disease physician Matthew Pullen, MD, discusses Andes virus transmission, misinformation, cruise ship risks, and what health care professionals should really be watching for.

New evidence suggests UV-C disinfection may do more than reduce pathogens. Repeated exposure can also damage common health care plastics, potentially creating microcracks and roughened surfaces that harbor microorganisms. Experts say material compatibility must become part of every UV-C infection prevention strategy.

At HSPA 2026 in Baltimore, Malinda Elammari shares why education, certification, and data literacy are critical to advancing sterile processing. Learn how stronger advocacy and recognition can elevate SPD’s role in patient safety and health care outcomes.

This 6-part series will chronicle the essential strategies and professional insights needed to empower infection preventionists (IPs) in their job search. In partnership with Jonnie Jacobs, an executive recruiter at Clutch Recruitment, this series will offer a comprehensive guide to navigating the current health care job market. This third article in the series focuses on connecting with specialized recruiters and navigating the hiring process.

A new podcast, The Safety Spectrum, explores workforce challenges in infection prevention, particularly the barriers faced by qualified professionals without nursing credentials, despite CMS and other regulatory bodies recognizing infection prevention as a multidisciplinary field. The article highlights ongoing staffing shortages, evolving workforce demographics, and the need for more inclusive hiring practices to strengthen patient safety and rebuild the infection prevention profession.

Why should infection preventionists pay attention to a rare hantavirus cruise outbreak? Because it underscores a critical reality: pathogens do not follow expected patterns. This case highlights the need for system-wide vigilance, environmental hygiene, and preparedness in high-density travel settings. For IPs, it’s a powerful reminder that effective infection prevention extends beyond health care facilities and must anticipate emerging risks before they escalate.

Sterile processing leaders Rebecca Lauber, FHSPA, and Vanessa Frank share insights from their HSPA 2026 presentation on career growth, professional identity, and active learning. Their message is clear: Empowering technicians, strengthening education, and building confidence are key to advancing patient safety and the future of sterile processing.

As people with HIV live longer due to ART, new challenges are emerging. Aging with HIV is linked to higher risks of comorbidities, chronic inflammation, and drug interactions, while gaps in clinical trial inclusion and care models highlight the need for more integrated, patient-centered treatment strategies.

On World Hand Hygiene Day (May 5), new insights highlight a critical gap: even when compliance is documented, sanitizer dose size may limit effectiveness, making proper ABHR dosing essential for true infection prevention.

Handwashing gaps persist despite high awareness, according to Bradley’s 2026 survey. As World Hand Hygiene Day (May 5) marks 17 years, experts stress clean restrooms, access, and behavior change are key to infection prevention.

At HSPA 2026 in Baltimore, sterile processing leaders Katie Belski, BSHCA, a-IPC, CRCST, CHL, CIS, CER; and Nicole Simon, CIS, CHL, CRCST, emphasized collaboration, mentorship, and stronger relationships between SPD and other departments to improve communication, resources, and patient safety across health care systems.

A Kansas jury awarded $7.65 million in a fatal KU Medical infection case tied to contaminated heater-cooler devices, renewing attention on Mycobacterium chimaera risks, device disinfection failures, and patient safety in cardiac surgery.