The Infection Control Today® prevention page contains news and information on the latest updates on all facets of infection prevention. From vaccinations and immunizations to controlling air and water flow in a health care system, preventing infections falls not only on the infection prevention staff, but on all who interact within the hospital, from environmental services teams to those planning and building new construction.
September 1st 2025
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.
Implementing Point-of-Use Instrument Care to Mitigate Surgical Site Infections in Operating Rooms
August 21st 2025How can health care facilities and health providers implement point-of-use (POU) instrument care? Here’s a closer look at the entire process, the principles guiding its implementation, and the potential barriers to implementing point-of-use instrument care.
How Misinformation Tries to Discredit the Science Behind Masking
August 19th 2025Public 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.
IP LifeLine: You're a Mover and a Shaker
August 15th 2025In a world full of corrections and checklists, don’t underestimate the quiet power of encouragement. One sentence—spoken with sincerity—can spark confidence, courage, and change. Infection preventionists do more than monitor safety; they shape culture. So today, go beyond reminders. Speak life. Name the good. Someone’s future may depend on it.
Unmasking VIM Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Threats in Critical Care
August 14th 2025VIM-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa isn’t just surviving in ICUs; it’s thriving. With mortality rates exceeding 30%, colonization risks hiding in drains, devices, and even donor milk, IPs must take proactive steps to outsmart this pathogen. Now is the time to double down on environmental controls, risk factor recognition, and surveillance strategies. Let’s break the biofilm cycle before the next outbreak takes root.
Balancing Regulation and Risk of AI and Machine Learning Software in Medical Devices
August 13th 2025Artificial intelligence may be revolutionizing sepsis detection and diagnosis, but can we trust it without strong regulatory guardrails? As AI/ML-enabled medical devices rapidly evolve, IPs must stay informed and involved to ensure safety keeps pace with innovation. Let’s take a closer look at how to advocate for innovative safe implementation.
Infection Prevention in Behavioral Health: Critical Strategies for a Safer Care Environment
August 12th 2025Infection prevention in behavioral health isn't one-size-fits-all. From PPE to hand hygiene, unique risks demand tailored solutions. Learn how to protect patients and staff safely and effectively.
Continuing the Fight Against Infectious Disease: Attend Health Watch USA’s 20th Annual Conference
August 6th 2025Join 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.
The Clean Bite: Real Talk About Infection Control — From the Classroom to the Operatory
August 4th 2025Want dental assistants who don’t just know infection control, but live it from day one? Tune in to The Clean Bite and learn how powerhouse instructor Samantha Mangioni is shaping the next generation to protect every patient, every time.
From Pandemic to Endemic: How the Protective Face Mask Market Is Evolving
August 1st 2025Once 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.
Rethinking Clean: How Outdated Disinfection Practices Are Fueling the AMR Crisis
July 31st 2025As drug-resistant infections rise, infection preventionists must look beyond outdated disinfectants. HOCl offers a safer, sustainable solution that has been proven effective, residue-free, and ready for health care use today.
From Custody Health to Hospital Infection Control: One Nurse’s Journey and Policy-Driven Impact
July 30th 2025Infection control nurse Eddie Jay LeCastillo, MSN, RN, CNL, CRRN, CIC, LTC-CIP, found his calling during the pandemic, transforming policy work into a mission to strengthen hospital safety through clarity, engagement, and preparedness.
The Green Revolution in SPD: From Hidden Cost to Frontline Change
July 30th 2025As 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.
Metrex Celebrates 40 Years of Infection Prevention Excellence
July 29th 2025At APIC 2025, Metrex Research marked a major milestone—4 decades of partnering with infection preventionists. Infection Control Today caught up with Senior Marketing Manager Cheryl Collins, MPH, and clinical advisor Sharon Ward-Fore, MS, MT(ASCP), CIC, FAPIC, to talk legacy, innovation, and why supporting IPs will always be at the heart of what Metrex does best.
Is the US Quietly Ending COVID-19 Vaccination for the Young and Healthy
July 29th 2025As 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.
Flawed From the Start: Why Many IFUs for Surgical Instruments Fail in Real-World Sterile Processing
July 23rd 2025At the 2025 HSPA Annual Conference & Expo, Cori L. Ofstead, MSPH, highlighted critical flaws in manufacturers’ instructions for use (IFUs) for orthopedic and neurosurgical instruments. From contradictory directions to unrealistic cleaning expectations, these IFUs often fail under real-world conditions, jeopardizing both patient safety and sterile processing workflows.
From Awareness to Action: Educating Staff on Sharps Safety Standards
July 23rd 2025Sharps safety in health care isn’t just about knowing the rules—it’s about changing the culture. In a recent interview with Infection Control Today®, perioperative educator Amanda Heitman shares how fostering a supportive, informed environment can turn safety standards into daily practice.
US Withdrawal From UNESCO Signals a Dangerous Step Back for Global Science
July 22nd 2025In a decision heavy with consequence and light on foresight, the US has once again chosen to walk away from UNESCO, leaving behind not just a seat at the table, but a legacy of global scientific leadership that now lies in question.
Pathogen Pulse: Facilities Need the SPD, Yersinia Enterocolitica Outbreak, and More
July 22nd 2025From unsterilized surgical tools in Colorado to a years-long methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) outbreak in Virginia and a surging measles crisis in Canada, recent headlines reveal the fragile front lines of infection prevention and the high stakes when systems fail.
Telemedicine's Transformative Role in PPE Distribution and Sterile Equipment Management
July 22nd 2025In an era defined by digital transformation and post-pandemic urgency, telemedicine has evolved beyond virtual visits to become a vital infrastructure for delivering personal protective equipment (PPE) and managing sterile supplies. By enabling real-time forecasting, remote quality control, and equitable distribution, telemedicine is revolutionizing how health care systems protect both patients and providers.
Championing Surgical Safety: A Perioperative Nurse’s Perspective on Infection Prevention
Published: July 22nd 2025 | Updated: July 23rd 2025Amanda Heitman, BSN, RN, CNOR, a perioperative nurse with over 20 years' experience and member of Infection Control Today® Editorial Advisory Board, has dedicated her career to patient safety and surgical excellence. Learn more about her path to where she is now.
Sharps Safety Starts With Communication, Not Just Devices
July 21st 2025Sharps safety in health care goes far beyond personal protective equipment. Amanda Heitman outlines a layered strategy of training, communication, and device innovation aimed at reducing needlestick injuries in even the busiest clinical environments.