Mask Respirator

Enjoy this first installment of The Long-Term Care Chronicles With Robbie Hilliard, MSN, RN CIC, a column about managing special infection control situations in the long-term care patient population. This installment is about when 2 experts conflict about best care.

The 2024 surge in infectious diseases like mpox, measles, and meningitis demands a paradigm shift in control strategies, emphasizing expanded expertise, improved airborne precautions, and rethinking cost-effectiveness in healthcare to prevent future outbreaks and protect public health.

Infection Control Today® speaks with the 2023 Infection Control Today’s Educator of the Year Award™ winner, Sharon Ward-Fore, MS, MT,(ASCP), CIC, FAPIC

A JAMA study exposes the US healthcare system's staggering waste expenditure underlining challenges in managing diverse waste types and stringent regulations' compliance. What solutions are there?

Step into the diverse and poignant world of "Corona City: Voices From an Epicenter" with editor Lorraine Ash, MA. In this insightful Q&A, learn about the origins of this remarkable anthology, the challenges faced in capturing raw, unfiltered narratives of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lasting impact of these stories on readers and communities alike.

Rare Disease Day on February 29, 2024, shines a global light on the impact of rare diseases, including rare infectious diseases. With a focus on early diagnosis and treatment access, this day highlights the struggles of those with rare conditions.

A recent commentary by Dr. Amesh Adalja in MedPage Today challenges the perception of COVID-19 as solely a respiratory virus, highlighting its broader impact on the body. This analysis questions the notion that COVID-19 should be managed like common respiratory infections, urging a closer look at vaccine effectiveness, the rise of long COVID, and the need for enhanced measures to curb the virus's spread. Let's explore the complexities of COVID-19 management and the pressing realities faced by the US and the world.

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today®’s highlights for the week ending February 4, 2024.

CDC sends pathogen spread proposals for revision, raising concerns about potential harm and emphasizing the need for reevaluation.

Due to the increasing frequency of natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and forest fires, people living in temporary shelters have a higher risk of infection. To address the situation, APIC has created a guide for infection preventionists.

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today®’s highlights for the week ending January 14, 2024.

Which of the various low and high-tech measures proposed to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission, from hand hygiene to air cleaners, actually work? A new study gives practical tools for assessment and insights into their effectiveness.

In this Hot Topics in IPC, Saskia v. Popescu, PhD, MPH, MA, CIC, FAPIC, discusses her concerns about COVID-19 and influenza for this winter, and mechanical ventilation and drug-resistant pathogens.

Medical investigators are concerned about a triple threat this winter with COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. Vaccination is crucial, but distribution challenges remain. Wearing masks, hand hygiene, and ventilation is important to prevent infections. Hospitals need comprehensive plans to respond efficiently.

As COVID-19 restrictions eased up, other respiratory viruses began circulating alongside SARS-CoV-2. It's crucial to identify cases and understand the symptoms of these infections to track the evolution of the virus and what health care workers should look out for.

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today®’s highlights for the week ending September 24, 2023.

Randomized controlled trials show masks are effective. With COVID-19, even one mistake in protective gear usage could lead to infection and obscure results.

Plague doctors' historical attire was an early form of PPE. While modern PPE has improved, the quest for better, more comfortable protection continues as we aim for a future where health care workers can provide care confidently.

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today®’s highlights for the week ending September 10, 2023.

Health Watch USA’s annual conference will examine many aspects of long COVID with speakers from across the globe on November 1, 2023, from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM EST.

In this Hot Topics in IPC, Saskia v. Popescu, PhD, MPH, MA, CIC, FAPIC, discusses whether masks need to return for COVID-19, Virginia’s outbreak, and interesting articles to read.

Here you will see where to nominate an exceptional infection control and prevention educator for the Infection Control Today®’s Educator of the Year Award™.

In this Hot Topics in IPC, Saskia v. Popescu, PhD, MPH, MA, CIC, gives her expert outlook on the latest on COVID-19, UV-C, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and more.

The commentators at the recent HICPAC meeting had different reactions, ranging from concern to anger.

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today®’s highlights for the week ending July 30, 2023.

Choosing the correct disinfectant can be difficult. This expert explains how to select the proper one.

In his analysis, Kevin Kavanagh, MD, explores the measures taken by the infectious disease sector in response to the pandemic, pointing out both effective and ineffective approaches. He also discusses how the pandemic has affected the treatment of other infectious diseases.

New Haven's infection prevention department created a procedure to identify and manage COVID-19 cases in BH units based on literature findings about how it spreads.

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today®’s highlights for the week ending June 4, 2023.

In the first of this new series, IPC Pros Helping Each Other: When is the right time to unmask in long-term care? One IP explains how she and her facility unmasked and what led to their decision.