COVID-19

Stethoscope hygiene, UV technology, and dwell time failures took center stage in this second installment of a panel of experts explored why routine disinfection still lags and what must change in clinical practice.

The November/December 2025 issue of Infection Control Today® dives into overlooked risks, breakthrough technologies, and the people driving innovation across IPC, EVS, and sterile processing. From bacteriophage therapy to burnout prevention, automation to UV regulation—it’s a powerful close to the year. Read the issue now: https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/journals/infection-control-today #InfectionPrevention #Healthcare #InfectionControl #EVS #IPC #PatientSafety #ICT

Just months after many dismissed H5N1 as a past concern, the “bird flu” has returned with force—killing millions of birds, infecting mammals from cows to cats, and raising alarms among scientists who warn the virus is edging closer to human adaptation.

Open Vaccine Track, find your metro, and pick one move this quarter—close an access gap, copy a local success, or launch targeted outreach. Small, data-driven steps in the right ZIP codes can shift adult vaccination faster than statewide averages ever will.

Fear of vaccine-related myocarditis is narrowing guidance, but the evidence is clear: COVID-19 infection triggers more myocarditis than vaccination, early doses cut pediatric long COVID, and myocarditis appeared in 2020—before vaccines existed. This piece restores the full risk–benefit picture.

A deadly Ebola outbreak has resurfaced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and while US risk remains low, the CDC and the WHO are urging the public and health care workers to stay on high alert.

"Although the virus itself remains a threat, misinformation about COVID-19 has become a parallel epidemic, one that undermines public health efforts and endangers lives."

Check out the latest print edition of Infection Control Today: September/October 2025.

Infection prevention cannot succeed in silos. From acute care hospitals to long-term care facilities, interdisciplinary teams bring diverse expertise together, transforming safety from an individual responsibility into a shared culture. It’s time for leaders to champion collaboration, empower every role, and embed IPC into daily care delivery.

In a historic Senate hearing, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced bipartisan fury over vaccine misinformation, as public health leaders demanded his resignation to protect science and safety.

Hospital readiness is no longer just about staff and equipment—it’s about infrastructure. From flooding to infection risks, restoration now plays a vital role in protecting patients and ensuring uninterrupted care.

Here are the formal rules for the 2024 Winner of the Infection Control Today’s Educator of the Year Award™.

Public health is under attack. The CDC shooting underscores how misinformation fuels mistrust and danger. In this climate, evidence-based protections like masking aren’t optional—they’re essential. Layered strategies remain our best defense against deadly pathogens.

Join global leaders in infection prevention, pandemic response, and public health strategy at the Health Watch USA 20th Annual Conference. This is your chance to gain actionable insights on emerging pathogens, vaccine misinformation, and antibiotic resistance, while earning CE credits at no cost. Don’t wait; Be part of the solution.

Infection prevention starts long before exposure; it begins with what we put into our bodies. This article series explores how key vitamins and nutrients like D, C, zinc, and more can strengthen immune defenses, reduce respiratory illness severity, and empower infection preventionists with evidence-based strategies to support overall health from the inside out.

Once a symbol of crisis, face masks have evolved into everyday essentials—driven not only by pandemic preparedness but by rising air pollution, cultural shifts, and workplace safety regulations. As innovation and demand grow worldwide, the protective face mask market is poised for long-term expansion well beyond COVID-19.

As climate change accelerates, health care’s environmental impact faces increased scrutiny, with sterile processing departments (SPDs) emerging as key change agents. Often behind the scenes, SPD professionals can lead sustainability by turning routine practices into ecofriendly protocols that protect both patient and planetary health.

As the FDA limits COVID-19 vaccine approvals to high-risk groups, healthy adults and pregnant individuals are being left behind. Learn how these changes could impact insurance coverage, long COVID prevention, and public health strategies.

New national survey data reveal high uncertainty among pregnant individuals—especially first-time parents—about vaccinating their future children, underscoring the value of proactive engagement to strengthen 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 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.

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.

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.

This issue covers COVID-19, measles, H5N1, screwworms, bedbugs, AI, and more.