Prevention

The Bug of the Month helps educate readers about existing and emerging pathogens that are clinically important in today's health care facilities.

As tick-borne diseases such as Lyme, Babesia, and Anaplasma increase across the US, accurate early detection remains a critical challenge. Jason Barker, ND, clinical lab educator at Vibrant Wellness, explains how innovative multiplex testing is transforming diagnostics and improving outcomes for patients and providers alike.

Manual cleaning gaps on shared hospital equipment can undermine infection control efforts. New research shows far UV-C light can serve as a safe, automated backup to reduce contamination in real-world clinical settings.

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.

As measles cases climb across the US, discredited myths continue to undercut public trust in vaccines. In an exclusive interview with Infection Control Today, Michigan Medicine’s Marschall Runge, PhD, confronts misinformation head-on and explores how clinicians can counter it with science, empathy, and community engagement.

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

In a major shift, the CDC has pulled routine COVID-19 vaccine guidance for healthy children and pregnant women, sparking sharp reactions from medical leaders.

In a strong statement, Devin Jopp, CEO of APIC, and Leah Binder, CEO of The Leapfrog Group, urge health care leaders to strengthen their commitment to infection prevention and control (IPC).

It’s a familiar request at the dentist—“close your lips around the suction.” But that small act could expose you to backflow contamination from previous patients. This first article in a brand new column by Sherrie Busby, EDDA, CDSO, CDIPC, explores the unseen risks of dental suction devices—and why patients should pause before obeying.

Flexible endoscopes revolutionized modern medicine—but their complex design poses persistent sterilization challenges. With mounting infection risks and emerging innovations, experts are rethinking how to clean and safeguard one of health care’s most indispensable tools.

With surgical site infections on the rise, experts argue that systemic antibiotics fall short, and targeted drug delivery may be the future of surgical infection prevention.

A string of infections following routine knee surgeries in Tennessee has escalated into litigation, raising questions about how—and when—health care facilities should detect outbreaks. As genomic surveillance gains traction in infection prevention, some fear it could increase legal risk. In reality, it may offer hospitals their strongest legal defense.

Key Takeaways from WHO’s 2024 Global Report and Insights from Real-world Experience

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced intense scrutiny over sweeping budget cuts and public health reforms during back-to-back hearings on Capitol Hill this week.

Invisible yet deadly, endotoxins evade traditional sterilization methods, posing significant risks during routine surgeries. Understanding and addressing their threat is critical for patient safety.

This article explores why it is essential to train housekeeping staff and leaders in health care facilities, emphasizing key reasons and evidence-based practices to back this necessity.

As infection prevention infrastructure unravels, professionals face déjà vu from the pandemic’s darkest days—making resilience not just important, but essential for survival and progress.

A rare Tennessee outbreak of Mycobacterium fortuitum revealed deep gaps in infection prevention at outpatient surgery centers—where oversight, staffing, and reporting often fall short.

The disbanding of HICPAC has left infection prevention experts scrambling to preserve national standards and ensure continuity amid growing concern over science-driven public health policy. Connie Steed, MSN, RN, CIC, FAPIC, speaks with ICT.

This week’s Infection Control Today’s Hot Topics in IPC discusses the latest in the measles outbreak, H5N1 in cattle herds, HICPAC, and more.

The abrupt disbanding of HICPAC silences decades of infection control expertise, leaving health care workers without unified guidance as deadly threats to patient safety rise.

Two new studies reveal troubling contamination in both new endoscopes and cleaned lumened surgical instruments, challenging the reliability of current reprocessing practices and manufacturer guidelines.

The proposed elimination of ASPR’s Hospital Preparedness Program in the 2026 federal budget could dismantle essential emergency readiness infrastructure and jeopardize national health care safety.

Despite their protective role, gloves are often misused in health care settings—undermining hand hygiene, risking patient safety, and worsening environmental impact. Alexandra Peters, PhD, points out that this misuse deserves urgent attention, especially today, World Hand Hygiene Day.

Clear, consistent alignment between infection preventionists and sterile processing teams on IFUs is essential for safe reprocessing—and increasingly achievable with the right tools and mindset.

Hannah Schroeder, BSHA, CRCST, CIS, CHL, CER, presented a workshop at HSPA Annual Conference on how sterile processing leaders are turning to quality management systems like AAMI ST90 to drive data-informed decisions, justify resources, and improve department-wide outcomes through advocacy.

Infection preventionists face relentless demands, but true resilience begins when they replace self-judgment with grace, processing emotions with acceptance and compassion—not perfection.

With his term as HSPA president concluded at the end of the HSPA Annual Conference, Anthony Bondon CRCST, CHL, BSM, AAS, SME, LSSYB, reflects on the power of connection, service, and why sterile processing professionals are the true champions of health care.

Deep feelings run strong about the COVID-19 pandemic, and some beautiful art has come out of those emotions. Infection Control Today is proud to share this poem by Carmen Duke, MPH, CIC, in response to a recent article by Heather Stoltzfus, MPH, RN, CIC.