Prevention

In this physician-authored analysis, a December 2025 CMS policy change ending mandatory childhood vaccine reporting is examined through a clinical and public health lens. The article warns that reduced surveillance, weakened federal recommendations, and increased reliance on shared decision making without clinical equipoise could accelerate declining vaccination rates, undermine outbreak response, and leave families without clear, evidence-based guidance.

Maternal influenza and Tdap vaccination during pregnancy were linked to significantly fewer hospitalizations and emergency department visits for flu and pertussis among infants younger than six months. New population-based data reinforce maternal immunization as a critical infection prevention strategy and highlight ongoing gaps in vaccine uptake during pregnancy.

A recent CMS policy change means states will no longer be required to report childhood vaccination data, raising serious concerns for infection prevention and control professionals. Without reliable immunization reporting, IPC teams may lose critical visibility into vaccine coverage, complicating outbreak prevention, policy decisions, and public trust at a time of rising vaccine hesitancy and declining community immunity.

Following holiday travel and gatherings, pediatric flu cases are rising rapidly across the US, with CDC data showing elevated flu activity and increased doctor visits. Experts urge parents and schools to monitor for sudden-onset symptoms, follow strict stay-home guidance, and reinforce household containment, vaccination, and respiratory hygiene to reduce spread as children return to classrooms.

What if sterile gloves are not always the safest or smartest choice? Evidence from dermatologic surgery suggests nonsterile gloves can deliver comparable infection outcomes in low-risk procedures while saving tens of thousands of dollars annually. This analysis asks whether hair restoration surgery deserves the same evidence-based reexamination.

Chagas disease is an emerging concern in Florida, where infected kissing bugs, wildlife reservoirs, and underdiagnosis intersect with migration and congenital transmission risks. This article outlines the epidemiology, women’s health implications, and practical infection prevention strategies, calling for risk-based screening, stronger surveillance, and community-engaged prevention to reduce morbidity and prevent congenital cases.

Cleaning failures can undermine high-level disinfection of ultrasound probes. Learn why proper cleaning, drying, and inspection matter, and how standardization and automation can improve reprocessing outcomes and patient safety.

Nearly 570 million people worldwide were living with a chronic respiratory disease in 2023, according to a new Global Burden of Disease analysis. While mortality has declined globally since 1990, deaths are rising in high-income North America, driven by interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis, with older adults facing the greatest risk.

A broad coalition of medical, public health, and infection prevention organizations is urging federal leaders to reaffirm a transparent, evidence-based US childhood immunization policy. The joint letter warns that reducing recommended vaccines, especially during a severe flu and RSV season, could increase preventable illness, hospitalization, and death among children.

With the threat of antibiotic-resistant infections on the rise, hospitals must recalibrate cleaning protocols that maximize people’s health and well-being while continuously mitigating infection risks.

Jill Morgan, BSN, RN, of Emory University Hospital, explains why PPE education must start earlier, go deeper, and focus on supply, process, and competency to truly protect health care workers.

The revision maintains insurance coverage for all vaccines but moves several doses into high-risk or shared decision-making categories as HHS commits to new clinical trials.

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses health care facilities face, and misinformation makes outbreak response even harder. Infection prevention and control professionals play a critical role by verifying staff immunity, enforcing airborne precautions, ensuring proper respiratory protection, and communicating clear, evidence based guidance. Science, preparation, and trusted messaging remain the strongest tools for protecting patients and health care workers during measles outbreaks.

As 2026 begins, Infection Control Today®'s Editorial Advisory Board reflects on a challenging year shaped by misinformation, policy uncertainty, and relentless change, reaffirming a commitment to science, truth, and supporting IPC professionals who keep showing up for patients and public health.

A West Nile virus survivor and a documentary filmmaker discuss the devastating neurological impact of infection, gaps in public awareness, and why infection prevention, blood screening, and vector control deserve renewed attention.

Are you curious what the Top 5 Infection Control Today interviews were in 2025? Read this article to find out.

Look back with ICT at their print issues and look ahead at what ICT's 30th year will hold!

Observed on December 27, the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness highlights the need for continuous investment in prevention, detection, and response to protect lives and strengthen health systems against ongoing and emerging threats.

To celebrate and thank the infection prevention community, Infection Control Today® introduces The Merry Microbe, a festive holiday games booklet filled with quizzes, puzzles, and crosswords designed to educate, engage, and bring a little joy to the vital work of keeping health care environments safe.

ICT’s top articles of 2025 spanned essential glove-use standards, CDC guidance on H5N1 monitoring, AI-driven infection prevention in operating rooms, advanced influenza surveillance for public health reporting, and APIC’s warning on communication restrictions that threaten outbreak response. Together, they highlight the evolving, high-stakes role of infection prevention in safeguarding health care and communities.

As misinformation accelerates and public trust is tested, Infection Control Today® reflects on a challenging year and reaffirms its commitment to evidence, clarity, and supporting IPC professionals who continue to confront falsehoods with facts, empathy, and persistence.