News

Infection preventionists are experts at stopping pathogens, but many of the field’s hardest challenges are human. Contagious Conversations is a new video series that opens the candid, sometimes uncomfortable discussions about who belongs in infection prevention, how teams hire and grow, and what it will take to build a stronger workforce. Expect curiosity, honesty, and practical takeaways, not hot takes.

Infection preventionists are experts at stopping pathogens, but many of the field’s hardest challenges are human. Contagious Conversations is a new video series that opens the candid, sometimes uncomfortable discussions about who belongs in infection prevention, how teams hire and grow, and what it will take to build a stronger workforce. Expect curiosity, honesty, and practical takeaways, not hot takes.

Could engineered bacteriophages help hospitals tackle drug-resistant infections when antibiotics fail? In this ICT Q&A, researchers discuss where phage engineering may realistically fit first in hospitals, from treatment of MDR infections to environmental control, and why broad-coverage phage products remain a longer-term goal.

Why small lapses in cleaning can lead to significant infection control consequences—and how dentistry can close the gaps.

The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Global Surgical Conference & Expo 2026 is coming up soon. It will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, from April 11 to 14. To give a taste of what will be available, Infection Control Today® is publishing the as-yet unposted interviews from 2025. This interview is on a poster titled “Advocacy Reduces Infection Related to Anastomotic Leaks and Incidental Lacerations.”

In this ICT podcast, HSPA President Arlene Bush reflects on a year of global collaboration, shifting standards, and the realities of compliance in sterile processing. She shares why 2026 should focus on celebrating throughput wins, strengthening training through rounding, and leading with empathy in high-stress departments.

From Joseph Lister to modern airflow engineering, operating room safety depends on more than sterile technique. This in-depth review explains why EVS, airflow control, objective cleaning verification, and SPD coordination are critical to reducing surgical site infections and building high-reliability perioperative environments.

Join Health Watch USA on February 18, 2026, as Christos Argyropoulos, MD, PhD, MS, FASN, discusses how repeated COVID-19 vaccinations compare with COVID-19 disease in patients with kidney disease, with implications for infection prevention, risk communication, and care of vulnerable populations.

A multicenter study of 401 patients with invasive aspergillosis found similar 90-day survival with mold-active triazoles and liposomal amphotericin B as primary therapy. As IA risk expands beyond traditional populations, the findings underscore the role of antifungal stewardship and careful treatment selection in infection prevention.

A recent case-control study found that continuous photohydrolysis disinfection significantly reduced environmental bioburden, MDRO acquisition, COVID-19 cases, and hospital transfers in a long-term care facility, without adding staffing demands. The findings highlight the role of continuous air and surface disinfection as a complementary strategy to manual cleaning in addressing antimicrobial resistance and infection risk in LTC settings.

Shazia Irum, MSC, MBA, RN, CIC, CPHQ, FAPIC, a new member of Infection Control Today®’s (ICT®’s) Editorial Advisory Board, answers a quick question about emerging respiratory viruses.

IPC professionals are on the front lines of translating vaccine policy into practice. Share your perspective on how recent CDC vaccine schedule updates are affecting communication, confidence, and infection prevention efforts in your facility. This brief, anonymous survey will help highlight gaps, needs, and opportunities to better support the IPC community.

This article is the first in a 3-part series exploring the "invisible shields" that protect our everyday world from biological threats. In an era defined by rapid climate shifts and 24-hour global travel, biosecurity has evolved from a niche laboratory concern into a critical pillar of national defense. However, this evolution coincides with a period where diplomatic trust is at a historic low and international cooperation is increasingly fragile.

Two emerging animal-origin viruses, influenza D and canine coronavirus HuPn-2018, are quietly circulating and largely missed by routine diagnostics. Experts warn that without stronger surveillance, data sharing, and preparedness, these pathogens could become the next major respiratory threat.

Dialysis patients face some of the highest infection risks in health care. In this Q&A, nurse practitioner leader Octavia “Tavi” Schlueter, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC, PMHS, breaks down bloodstream infection risks, vascular access best practices, and how IPC teams can support dialysis staff through practical, workflow-based education.

“Nothing has changed,” said Jeffery Goad, PharmD, MPH, president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. “The evidence is clear that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and COVID-19 is not done with us.”

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.

In this complete interview with Colleen Becker, PhD, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, senior director of perioperative education for AORN, strong infection prevention practices are grounded in trust, communication, and psychological safety within the operating room team.

Infection prevention professionals are facing a critical breaking point. New survey data reveal widespread understaffing, rising burnout, and systemic undervaluation that threaten patient safety, outbreak readiness, and health system resilience.

Continuous, evidence-based education builds confidence, competence, and safer perioperative care. Colleen Becker, PhD, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, senior director of perioperative education for AORN, explains how inclusive learning approaches and career-long education reinforce infection prevention excellence while supporting professional growth and resilience.

The global health community mourns the loss of William Foege, MD, MPH, a visionary leader whose work helped eradicate smallpox and redefine outbreak response worldwide. His legacy of surveillance, community engagement, and ethical leadership continues to shape infection prevention, vaccination strategy, and global public health for generations to come.

Leprosy cases have dropped dramatically, but misconceptions persist. An infectious disease expert explains what today’s infection prevention teams need to know about risk, transmission, and why stigma still matters.

Carbapenem-resistant organisms don’t stop at borders. Experts from Johns Hopkins and Ohio State share how strengthening lab capacity and foundational infection prevention practices helped reduce transmission in Ethiopian and Indian hospitals.

When inclusivity breaks down in the OR, patient safety is at risk. In this interview with Infection Control Today®, Colleen Becker, PhD, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, senior director of perioperative education for AORN, explains how perioperative leaders can use education, empathy, and patient-centered storytelling to address inclusivity challenges, strengthen team culture, and support safer surgical care.

Leprosy remains rare, curable, and widely misunderstood. In this World Leprosy Day interview, infectious disease expert Matthew Pullen, MD, breaks down current epidemiology, transmission risk, and what IPC professionals need to know to respond with evidence-based care—not fear.