News

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.

Communal dining in LTC facilities enhances social interaction and nutrition but requires infection prevention measures to protect residents from risks like gastrointestinal and respiratory infections.

Bug of the Month helps educate readers about existing and emerging pathogens of clinical importance in health care facilities today.

Transplants are a crucial yet complex part of acute care. They involve various organs and tissues, necessitating robust infection prevention programs and compliance with strict regulatory standards.

Balancing personal struggles and professional responsibilities during crises requires self-awareness, self-compassion, healthy boundaries, and support networks. Embrace these strategies to navigate and overcome challenges.

This Sunday, July 28, is World Hepatitis Day, a time to raise awareness and support research for infection prevention and treatment.

The June 3, 2024, House Oversight Committee questioned the efficacy of the six-foot social distancing rule, highlighting its benefits and limitations in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today®’s highlights for the week ending July 20, 2024.

Complicated and untreatable gonococcal infections due to antimicrobial-resistant gonorrhea are outpacing the advancements and development of novel antibiotics and testing technologies.

In a follow-up to Infection Control Today's (ICT's) article on the CDC's Antimicrobial Resistance Threats in the US 2021-2022 release, Michael Craig, MPP, director of CDC's Antimicrobial Resistance Coordination and Strategy Unit, answers ICT's questions.

Taking care of themselves is crucial for infection prevention personnel so they can adequately care for their patients. Here are some suggestions on how to do that.

Check out Infection Control Today's PowerPoint that explains updates to the long-term care enhanced barrier precautions (EBP) requirements from the CMS.

The CDC reports today of a 20% increase in antimicrobial-resistant infections during COVID-19, in the years of 2021-2022, highlighting the need for ongoing prevention and updated estimates starting in 2025.

A new model demonstrates optimal testing strategies for reducing disease transmission, highlighting pathogen-specific recommendations and the importance of human behavior in effective diagnosis and isolation.

The CDC and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) discuss the evolving summer COVID-19 season and strategies for prevention.

Whether it is a birthday, an anniversary, or no reason at all, infection prevention personnel love to give and receive gifts that help at the end of a stressful day. Infection Control Today® offers gift ideas for prevention personnel and their families.

Colorado reports that the transmission source has not yet been identified.

Katharine J. Hoffman, MPH, CIC, LSSGB: It’s time to take the devil out of the details in interpreting and successfully following manufacturers' instructions for use; why do manufacturers need to update IFUs?

Beginning a new infection prevention position can be daunting. Check out the latest IP LifeLines article by Brenna Doran, PhD, MA, ACC, CIC, on mastering the transition.

The "90’s SwipeSense Club" significantly improved hand hygiene adherence at Novant Health Thomasville Medical Center. By incentivizing adherence through 1990s-themed rewards and using SwipeSense technology to track hygiene practices, the hospital increased adherence rates from 53% in 2021 to 84% by May 2024.

The updated ANSI/AAMI ST24 standard outlines requirements for ethylene oxide sterilizers in health care, addressing advancements, regulatory changes, and new technology to enhance sterilization practices and safety.

Consistent infection prevention (IP) rounding in ambulatory clinics fosters compliance, collaboration, and education, improving infection prevention through relationship-building and just-in-time learning.

William Shutze, MD, FACS, discusses how infection prevention impacts vascular health, emphasizing key strategies and the role of vascular surgeons in maintaining vascular well-being.

Hebah al Zamel, MSN, CIC, CPHQ, an infection preventionist in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a member of ICT's Editorial Advisory Board, describes how hand hygiene is handled in Prince Sultan Cardiac Center in Qasim.

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 Isis Lamphier, MPH, CIC.

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 Hebah al Zamel, MSN, CIC, CPHQ.

June is CMV Awareness Month, and infection preventionists are urged to focus on transmission, symptoms, and prevention of this widespread yet often overlooked viral infection.