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Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today’s highlights for the week ending September 6, 2024.

This new column, Clean Hospital with Alexandra Peters, PhD, explores advancements in health care environmental hygiene, highlighting its growing recognition as a key component of infection prevention and honoring pioneers like Professor Stephanie Dancer.

Chronos, a chemical-free UV-C disinfection device for ultrasound probes, received FDA clearance. It offers health care professionals a fast, automated solution to reduce cross-contamination and improve infection prevention.

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.

Discover Tamara Behm's journey in seeking an IP leadership role, her passion for patient safety, and advice for job-seeking professionals in infection prevention, in this discussion with ICT’s IPLifeline.

Surgical instrument errors, often linked to visualization failures during sterile processing, pose significant risks to patient safety and OR efficiency. Advanced technologies, including AI, are essential for reducing these errors and improving overall outcomes in sterile processing departments.

The FDA's 21 CFR Part 820 and ISO 13485 are crucial in regulating medical device quality systems. Harmonizing these standards by 2026 will streamline compliance, improve patient access to devices, and align US regulations with global practices.

Read this informative article on mitigating central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in acute care settings, which is crucial for enhancing patient safety.

Pharmacies, with their widespread locations and extended hours, have become vital access points for vaccinations, particularly in underserved communities. They provide convenience, education, and trusted health care services to millions across the US.

The 2024 surge in infectious diseases like mpox, measles, and meningitis demands a paradigm shift in control strategies, emphasizing expanded expertise, improved airborne precautions, and rethinking cost-effectiveness in healthcare to prevent future outbreaks and protect public health.

How can you help novice infection preventionists in such a challenging yet rewarding field? Dear Helpdesk answers with assistance from Rebecca Bartles, DrPH, CIC, FAPIC, executive director of the Center for Research, Practice, and Innovation for Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

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.

Meet the experts shaping infection prevention: Infection Control Today's Editorial Board members share insights, experiences, and cutting-edge strategies to enhance health care safety and quality. Meet David Levine, PhD, DPT, MPH, FAPTA.

Welcome to Pathogen Pulse with Isis Lamphier, MPH, CIC. This edition is about the mpox, formerly known as monkey pox, global health emergency.

Effective implementation of UV-C disinfection is crucial to reducing HAIs. The Providence Holy Cross Medical Center achieved a 19% reduction in multidrug-resistant HAIs and saved $1.2 million through strategic deployment, highlighting the importance of collaboration and innovative management.

The US faces an H5N1 outbreak affecting dairy cattle, poultry, and humans. Cases are rising, highlighting potential pandemic risks and the need for vigilant monitoring.

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today®’s highlights for the week ending August 17, 2024.

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.

A recent National Institutes of Health study reveals that routine lab tests are ineffective for diagnosing long COVID, highlighting the urgent need for novel biomarkers to identify and treat the condition accurately.

Maintaining team morale during financial instability and potential layoffs requires clear communication, emotional support, and professional development opportunities to reassure and retain valuable team members.

The USDA aims to enhance food safety and public health while maintaining cost-effectiveness and ensuring safer poultry products by implementing targeted monitoring and a phased compliance approach.

Infection Control Today's Product Locator is a monthly column highlighting some of the latest advanced technology in infection prevention.

Jackie Otero, senior territory sales representative at Abatement Technologies, discusses the SHIELD WALL modular containment system by Abatement Technologies, highlighting its quick assembly, durability, noise reduction, and benefits in maintaining indoor air quality in health care settings.

Rising antibiotic resistance necessitates exploring phage therapy as an alternative. Despite historical sidelining, phages show promise in treating various infections, but regulatory, safety, and resistance challenges remain.

Pneumonia, a leading cause of death from health care-acquired infections, can be prevented through oral care, especially in nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) cases.

Advanced photohydrolysis technology offers continuous disinfection, combating hospital-acquired infections and antimicrobial resistance. Safe and cost-effective, it significantly reduces health care-associated infections.

Welcome to Pathogen Pulse with Isis Lamphier, MPH, CIC. This edition is about H5N1. H5N1 bird flu has spread to dairy cattle across multiple states, posing new risks through unpasteurized milk and contact with infected animals.

An infection preventionist leader shares strategies for navigating overwhelming workloads, recruiting support, and communicating effectively with management while addressing burnout in an understaffed environment.