Environmental Services

A poster at the APIC Annual Conference and Exposition held from June 15 to 17, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee. After managing bloodborne pathogen exposures affecting more than 3,000 patients, Providence Health & Services developed a multidisciplinary playbook to improve preparedness, communication, and response during future large-scale events.

An APIC26 poster described a systemwide initiative at Memorial Hermann Health System that improved staff understanding, consistency, and confidence in medical device cleaning and disinfection through education, manufacturer collaboration, and hands-on demonstrations.

A photo-based education activity helped frontline staff recognize infection prevention concerns, discuss common barriers, and strengthen survey readiness in long-term care.

Environmental surfaces remain a critical but often invisible component of infection prevention. In this Q&A, experts discuss how real-time microbial visualization technology may help infection preventionists and environmental services teams identify contamination risks, validate cleaning efforts, and improve environmental surveillance beyond traditional methods.

How plastic‑free wipes are helping hospitals reduce waste while delivering disinfecting performance.

The global infection control supplies market is projected to grow from $58.5 billion in 2026 to $106.1 billion by 2035 as healthcare systems invest more heavily in infection prevention, sterilization technologies, PPE, and automated disinfection solutions. Driven by rising healthcare-associated infections, aging populations, chronic disease burden, and increasing regulatory pressure, the market is evolving toward smarter, technology-enabled infection prevention strategies across hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and outpatient care settings.

Candida auris continues to challenge infection prevention programs worldwide as cases rise across health care settings and multidrug resistance limits treatment options. In this article, Ayaz Majid, PhD, director of product management at Diasorin, explores why rapid molecular diagnostics are becoming essential tools for identifying colonized patients, supporting isolation protocols, and helping health care facilities prevent outbreaks before they spread.

A hantavirus outbreak linked to a South American cruise ship is drawing global attention, but experts say fears of a COVID-19-style pandemic are largely unsupported. Infectious disease physician Matthew Pullen, MD, discusses Andes virus transmission, misinformation, cruise ship risks, and what health care professionals should really be watching for.

New evidence suggests UV-C disinfection may do more than reduce pathogens. Repeated exposure can also damage common health care plastics, potentially creating microcracks and roughened surfaces that harbor microorganisms. Experts say material compatibility must become part of every UV-C infection prevention strategy.

Improper glove use in health care can turn protective barriers into vectors of infection, increasing contamination risks, cross-transmission, and HAIs when hand hygiene and proper protocols are not consistently followed.

The Clean Bite's Sherrie Busby and Becki McFadden write on how proper PPE use in dental settings reduces infection risk from aerosols and sharps, protecting providers and patients through consistent use of masks, gloves, face shields, and protective apparel.

At AORN26 in New Orleans, a poster highlights surgical smoke risks, urging nationwide evacuation policies to protect health care workers and patients and strengthen nurse-led advocacy for safer operating rooms.

Clean linen isn’t risk-free after washing. Storage, handling, environment, and transport can reintroduce microbes—making proper separation, minimal handling, and controlled conditions essential for infection prevention.

Health care–associated infections (HAIs) remain underestimated, driven by evolving pathogens, environmental reservoirs, and biofilm persistence. Experts argue outdated data and overreliance on hand hygiene obscure the true, growing burden of preventable infections.

AI and agentic systems are transforming infection prevention by enabling real-time surveillance, predictive risk modeling, and earlier intervention, shifting health care from reactive response to proactive prevention and improving patient safety outcomes.

A former infection prevention professional shares his battle with MRSA and sepsis, revealing the lasting impact of health care–associated infections and why vigilance, accountability, and patient advocacy matter more than ever.

The global medical waste management market is rapidly growing, driven by healthcare expansion, regulations, and sustainability demands, transforming waste handling into a strategic priority for safer, more efficient, and environmentally responsible health care systems.

Sherrie Busby, steps out of dental IPC to highlight infection control risks in Alzheimers care, including UTIs, C difficile, and hygiene practices. Practical tips on handwashing, PPE, and environmental cleaning emphasize protecting vulnerable patients while supporting caregivers’ health and resilience in home settings and safety outcomes.

Ill-fitting PPE exposes women health care workers to infection risks, regulatory liability, and reduced performance. Wyatt Bradbury, MEng, CSP, CHST, CIT, TSSP, urges infection prevention leaders to assess fit, engage staff, and improve procurement practices to ensure safety, compliance, and equitable protection across clinical environments.

Improper linen handling in long-term care facilities can increase cross-contamination risk. Experts say laundry workflows, directional processing, and consistent wash parameters play a critical role in infection prevention by limiting microbial spread during the collection, sorting, laundering, and storage of contaminated textiles.

Shared medical equipment, such as IV pumps, workstations on wheels, and wheelchairs, often lacks clear cleaning ownership in hospitals. Experts say that defining responsibility, setting cleaning frequencies, and implementing verification processes can reduce the risk of cross-contamination and strengthen infection prevention programs without adding staff.

Lawmakers are pressing HHS to release a CDC study on reusable health care textiles and PPE. Industry leaders say reusable gowns and linens could strengthen supply chains, reduce waste, and protect health care workers during emergencies, but the report remains unpublished.

Dental assistants manage sterilization, infection control, and patient education—yet most states require zero formal training. They earn the lowest wages in dental offices. Meet Sherrie Busby's 42-year mission to secure standardized credentialing and fair recognition. (Audio podcast)