The Infection Control Today® hand hygiene page examines the practice of hand hygiene, from the proper methods to adherence among hospital staff. Will greater recognition of hand hygiene’s importance in curbing the spread of infections translate into better adherence among hospital staff and the public? This page features videos that demonstrate exactly how to conduct hand hygiene properly, articles recapping peer-reviewed literature on the latest advances in monitoring and adherence, as well as the popular "Bug of the Month" feature.
October 11th 2024
Use this handout to explain the basics of why infection prevention and control and antimicrobial stewardship are essential and how the 2 fields must have a unified approach to patient and staff safety
How to Prepare For Possible “Tripledemic” of RSV, Influenza, and SARS-CoV-2
September 25th 2023The interaction between the respiratory viruses SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and RSV, poses ongoing challenges. Personal protective measures, testing, and vaccination are critical components of our strategy to mitigate the impact of these viruses.
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) Bioluminescence Testing and Performance
September 4th 2023In 2003, the CDC recommended hospitals to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. Later, they advised hospitals to closely supervise cleaning procedures near patients. This article explains what IPC personnel need to know about ATP testing.
The Hardest Question in Infection Control: Did You Perform Hand Hygiene?
August 7th 2023Everyone in health care knows the importance of hand hygiene, but adherence in health care is often below 50%, and having a conversation regarding hand hygiene adherence with a coworker can be uncomfortable. What can an organization do to increase hand hygiene adherence?
IPC Pros Helping Other: Engaging Staff Through an Infection Prevention and Control Educational Fair
August 3rd 2023In this installment of IPC Pros Helping Each Other, a long-term care infection preventionists in New Hampshire describes the IPC educational fair her facility organized for the rest of the staff. Michele M, director of nursing services, said, “[The educational fair] was a creative and interactive way to engage staff in infection control education.”
APIC Conferences Are for IPs, but Who Else Would Benefit? Remastering Leadership Methods
June 26th 2023Infection preventions across the United States and the world converge at the annual APIC conference to learn the newest information on IPC. Read this article on who else should go to learn how to prevent and control infections.
Special Report on Candida auris: An Emerging Drug-Resistant Fungal Threat
June 14th 2023The recent increase in drug-resistant strains of Candida auris, causing mortality at rates as high as 60%, raises questions regarding the spread of this pathogen as a health care-associated infection, cleaning/disinfecting protocol, and treatment via antifungal drugs.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Using a Hand Hygiene Monitoring System
May 25th 2023Hand hygiene requirements for inpatient health care are numerous and varied. An electronic system to help monitor adherence with some indications benefits the hospital, although it may also introduce some drawbacks.