Topic

Tori Whitacre Martonicz is the editor of 

.  She has been a writer and editor for over 30 years, and she has an MA and BA in English Composition/Literature from the University of Akron in Akron, OH. She lives in Ohio with her husband; son; 2 tiny dogs, Selena Brigid Sophia and Doctor Danger Dog; and a big black cat, Freya. She loves reading, writing, gardening, and spending time with her loved ones.

Videos

Joshua Rhein, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota, discusses whether obesity affects vaccine response and what can be done.


Does Obesity Affect Vaccine Response? 

Heather Saunders is an experienced and motivated registered nurse with a master’s degree in public health and a certification in infection control. Striving for excellence in the prevention and control of infectious disease, Heather believes in using innovative and strategic leadership methods to achieve program goals.

Heather first discovered her love for infection control (and chai tea) during a short-term assignment in Nairobi, Kenya, where she worked to improve maternal and child health through the prevention of infectious diseases. After spending the first 6 years of her nursing career in busy emergency departments, Heather transitioned away from the bedside to join the work at the Johns Hopkins Hospital as an infection control epidemiologist. Following the completion of her master's degree in public health, Heather became the infection prevention and control nurse consultant for the State of Maryland, assisting healthcare facilities in their response to healthcare-associated infections. Currently, Heather is employed with Johns Hopkins University Division of Infectious Diseases as a research nurse program manager, using her expertise to guide research in the prevention and control of infections in healthcare settings. Additionally, Heather is the owner of Broad Street Prevention, where she serves as an infection prevention consultant.

During her off hours, Heather enjoys writing, reading, hiking, and spending time with her friends and family. She is the proud author of the blog, All the Lessons We Learn, where she gives a lyrical accounting of all the beautiful, painful, and transcendent lessons that we learn on this journey we call life.

https://www.facebook.com/thelessonswelearn/

Articles

Learn from your mistakes; reach for the stars. We all have learning to do. Just don't quit!

Reaching for the Stars: Turn Your Weaknesses Into Successes 

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today®’s highlights for the week ending March 26, 2023.


Weekly Rounds: Marburg Virus, COVID-19's Possible Long-Term Damage to Immune System, and More

The HAC and Hospital VBP penalties were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic but are now back in place. Are they forcing hospitals to rethink/reestablish previous practices, and what is the impact?


HAC and VBP Penalties: Will They Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections? 

KEVIN KAVANAGH, MD, is the founder of the patient advocacy group Health Watch USA

Editorial Advisory Board, and a frequent contributor to 

NIH News Release: "...findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection damages the CD8+ T cell response, an effect akin to that observed in earlier studies showing long-term damage to the immune system after infection with viruses such as hepatitis C or HIV."

COVID-19: Study Suggests Long-term Damage to Immune System 

Recently, an outbreak of Marburg virus disease occurred in Equatorial Guinea. Infection Control Today® learned more about this rare but severe and often fatal disease and what is being done to combat it. 

Marburg Virus Disease: What Is It? What Can Be Done About It? 

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today®’s highlights for the week ending March 19, 2023.


Weekly Rounds: Product Locator, The Joint Commissions, Human Metapneumovirus, and More

Is the global community in danger of a fungal pandemic, as portrayed in the series The Last of Us? Infection Control Today® finds out.


The Last of Us: Could it Really Happen?

SASKIA V. POPESCU, PHD, MPH, MA, CIC, is a hospital epidemiologist and infection preventionist. During her work as an infection preventionist, she performed surveillance for infectious diseases, preparedness, and Ebola-response practices. She holds a doctorate in biodefense from George Mason University where her research focused on the role of infection prevention in facilitating global health security efforts. She is certified in infection control and has worked in both pediatric and adult acute care facilities.

Saskia v. Popescu, PhD, MPH, MA, CIC, gives updates on congenital syphilis, skunks and H5N1, and COVID-19 on this Ides of March.

IC Today Hot Topics: Congenital Syphilis, Skunks and H5N1, and COVID-19 Mixed News

Lois Anzelowitz Levine, MA, is the associate editorial director of 

Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine must be administered at least 2 months after the primary vaccination series.     

FDA Authorized Pfizer's COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccine for 6 Months to 4 Years 

 COVID-19 page brings readers the latest information and clinical updates on the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, from case counts and hospitalization rates to data on effective treatments for severe disease and the circulating viral variants.  