Hospitals may rely on handwashing as a frontline defense against infection, but the very sinks meant to promote hygiene can harbor dangerous pathogens. At this year’s AHE Exchange Summit, microbiologist Mark Wiencek, PhD, T-CHEST, explores how biofilms in sink drains create a persistent threat to patient safety—and what infection prevention and EVS teams can do about it.
Dr Rebecca Crapanzano-Sigafoos explains how at this year’s APIC Annual Conference & Expo in Phoenix, leaders unveiled key initiatives poised to shape the future of infection prevention, including a new research network, an updated MegaSurvey, and a comprehensive guide to catheter-associated bloodstream infection prevention.
Despite its critical role in patient safety, infection prevention and control (IPC) remains one of health care’s most misunderstood and understructured professions. While COVID-19 thrust IPC into the spotlight, the field still lacks a clear entry path, standardized training, and broad institutional recognition, leaving many professionals to learn on the job with minimal guidance.
Infection preventionists are at the forefront of the infodemic; the keynote session offered suggestions on how they can combat and mitigate misinformation.
A hospital’s surveillance validation process uncovered a hidden threat to antimicrobial stewardship: contaminated urine cultures leading to unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions. This prompted a collaborative effort to improve specimen integrity and reduce inappropriate antimicrobial use through targeted diagnostic stewardship.
From a lifelong mentor to a rising star, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) honored leaders across the career spectrum at its 2025 Annual Conference in Phoenix, recognizing individuals who enhance patient safety through research, leadership, and daily practice.
Despite rapid development, the Middle East faces a critical shortage of certified infection preventionists. A 7-year regional initiative has significantly boosted infection control capacity, increasing the number of certified professionals and elevating patient safety standards across health care settings.
A hospital-wide quality improvement project has transformed how staff access critical manufacturer instructions for use (IFUs), improving infection prevention compliance and saving time through a standardized, user-friendly digital system supported by unit-based training and interdepartmental collaboration.
When Chicago logged its first measles cases linked to crowded migrant shelters last spring, one pediatric hospital moved in hours—not days—to prevent the virus from crossing its threshold. Their playbook offers a ready template for the next communicable-disease crisis.
A 758-bed quaternary medical center slashed catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) by 45% over 2 years, proving that disciplined adherence to fundamental prevention steps, not expensive add-ons, can reverse the pandemic-era spike in device-related harm.
Spanish-speaking patients face significantly higher risks of contracting serious infections during hospital stays, even when interpreter services are provided, according to new research presented at the 2025 APIC Annual Conference.
At APIC25, infection prevention leader Heather Stoltzfus, MPH, RN, CIC, will spotlight the growing risks and overlooked responsibilities associated with medical tourism. Her session urges infection preventionists to engage with a global health trend that directly impacts US care settings.
Health leaders are outraged after HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. abruptly fired all 17 members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, calling it a political purge that threatens public trust and vaccine safety.
As federal cuts reshape public health, students nationwide are reacting with fear, frustration, and renewed resolve as they face an uncertain future in the field.
Infection prevention is everyone’s responsibility, but environmental services (EVS) professionals are often overlooked. At AHE’s Exchange25, Shannon Simmons, DHSc, is on a mission to change that.
The Association for the Health Care Environment (AHE) is set to host its largest event of the year—Exchange Summit 2025—from June 8 to 11 in Columbus, Ohio. With over 600 environmental services (EVS) professionals expected to attend, this year’s conference focuses heavily on infection prevention, interdepartmental collaboration, and education that empowers frontline health care support leaders to improve patient safety and operational efficiency.
The Bug of the Month helps educate readers about existing and emerging pathogens that are clinically important in today's health care facilities.
As tick-borne diseases such as Lyme, Babesia, and Anaplasma increase across the US, accurate early detection remains a critical challenge. Jason Barker, ND, clinical lab educator at Vibrant Wellness, explains how innovative multiplex testing is transforming diagnostics and improving outcomes for patients and providers alike.
Manual cleaning gaps on shared hospital equipment can undermine infection control efforts. New research shows far UV-C light can serve as a safe, automated backup to reduce contamination in real-world clinical settings.
The CDC’s updated hospital respiratory reporting requirement has added new layers of responsibility for infection preventionists. Karen Jones, MPH, RN, CIC, FAPIC, clinical program manager at Wolters Kluwer, breaks down what it means and how IPs can adapt.
As infection threats evolve and the IP workforce faces burnout and attrition, a new study reveals a critical weak spot: inconsistent access to infection prevention certification—and the training needed to succeed.
Policy changes made by Robert F. Kennedy Jr as the HHS Secretary are alarming health care providers, including changes in water fluoridization, COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, and more.
New HSPA President Arlene Bush, CRCST, CER, CIS, SME, DSMD, CRMST, shares insights from the 2025 conference, including groundbreaking innovations, member engagement, and her goals for advancing the sterile processing field.
As measles cases climb across the US, discredited myths continue to undercut public trust in vaccines. In an exclusive interview with Infection Control Today, Michigan Medicine’s Marschall Runge, PhD, confronts misinformation head-on and explores how clinicians can counter it with science, empathy, and community engagement.
This issue covers COVID-19, measles, H5N1, screwworms, bedbugs, AI, and more.
In a major shift, the CDC has pulled routine COVID-19 vaccine guidance for healthy children and pregnant women, sparking sharp reactions from medical leaders.
In a strong statement, Devin Jopp, CEO of APIC, and Leah Binder, CEO of The Leapfrog Group, urge health care leaders to strengthen their commitment to infection prevention and control (IPC).
When an unclear airborne isolation order disrupted patient care, one infection preventionist had to unravel entrenched practices and prioritize safety, communication, and staff trust.
It’s a familiar request at the dentist—“close your lips around the suction.” But that small act could expose you to backflow contamination from previous patients. This first article in a brand new column by Sherrie Busby, EDDA, CDSO, CDIPC, explores the unseen risks of dental suction devices—and why patients should pause before obeying.
Flexible endoscopes revolutionized modern medicine—but their complex design poses persistent sterilization challenges. With mounting infection risks and emerging innovations, experts are rethinking how to clean and safeguard one of health care’s most indispensable tools.
