Prevention

Women make up most of the senior living workforce, especially in housekeeping and operations, yet they are often excluded from innovation and infection control decisions. When frontline women are not at the table, organizations lose critical insight into workflow, chemical safety, outbreak response, and resident comfort. Leaders who treat environmental safety as a strategic priority, not a compliance checkbox, can improve staff retention, resident outcomes, and long-term resilience.

This Pathogen Pulse examines infection prevention worldwide. Minnesota is investigating a TMVII fungal outbreak with 13 confirmed and 27 suspected sexually transmitted cases in the Twin Cities. CDC researchers report 10,530 travel-associated dengue cases from 128 countries between 2010 and 2024, which can help detect global outbreaks earlier. Further, China, the first human Streptococcus parasuis case in Henan was confirmed, with no livestock exposure, raising environmental transmission concerns.

Infection preventionists are experts at stopping pathogens, but many of the field’s hardest challenges are human. Contagious Conversations is a new video series that opens the candid, sometimes uncomfortable discussions about who belongs in infection prevention, how teams hire and grow, and what it will take to build a stronger workforce. Expect curiosity, honesty, and practical takeaways, not hot takes.

Could engineered bacteriophages help hospitals tackle drug-resistant infections when antibiotics fail? In this ICT Q&A, researchers discuss where phage engineering may realistically fit first in hospitals, from treatment of MDR infections to environmental control, and why broad-coverage phage products remain a longer-term goal.

Why small lapses in cleaning can lead to significant infection control consequences—and how dentistry can close the gaps.

In this ICT podcast, HSPA President Arlene Bush reflects on a year of global collaboration, shifting standards, and the realities of compliance in sterile processing. She shares why 2026 should focus on celebrating throughput wins, strengthening training through rounding, and leading with empathy in high-stress departments.

From Joseph Lister to modern airflow engineering, operating room safety depends on more than sterile technique. This in-depth review explains why EVS, airflow control, objective cleaning verification, and SPD coordination are critical to reducing surgical site infections and building high-reliability perioperative environments.

Join Health Watch USA on February 18, 2026, as Christos Argyropoulos, MD, PhD, MS, FASN, discusses how repeated COVID-19 vaccinations compare with COVID-19 disease in patients with kidney disease, with implications for infection prevention, risk communication, and care of vulnerable populations.

A multicenter study of 401 patients with invasive aspergillosis found similar 90-day survival with mold-active triazoles and liposomal amphotericin B as primary therapy. As IA risk expands beyond traditional populations, the findings underscore the role of antifungal stewardship and careful treatment selection in infection prevention.

As “wellness” trends flood social media and consumer health marketing, separating credible infection prevention strategies from hype has never been more urgent. In this Q&A, surgeon and clinical researcher Ali Cadili, MD, MBA, MS, breaks down which 2026 wellness trends are grounded in evidence, and which risk creating false reassurance, covering air quality, hand hygiene, supplements, wearables, masking, and environmental controls.

A recent case-control study found that continuous photohydrolysis disinfection significantly reduced environmental bioburden, MDRO acquisition, COVID-19 cases, and hospital transfers in a long-term care facility, without adding staffing demands. The findings highlight the role of continuous air and surface disinfection as a complementary strategy to manual cleaning in addressing antimicrobial resistance and infection risk in LTC settings.

Shazia Irum, MSC, MBA, RN, CIC, CPHQ, FAPIC, a new member of Infection Control Today®’s (ICT®’s) Editorial Advisory Board, answers a quick question about emerging respiratory viruses.

IPC professionals are on the front lines of translating vaccine policy into practice. Share your perspective on how recent CDC vaccine schedule updates are affecting communication, confidence, and infection prevention efforts in your facility. This brief, anonymous survey will help highlight gaps, needs, and opportunities to better support the IPC community.

Two emerging animal-origin viruses, influenza D and canine coronavirus HuPn-2018, are quietly circulating and largely missed by routine diagnostics. Experts warn that without stronger surveillance, data sharing, and preparedness, these pathogens could become the next major respiratory threat.

Dialysis patients face some of the highest infection risks in health care. In this Q&A, nurse practitioner leader Octavia “Tavi” Schlueter, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC, PMHS, breaks down bloodstream infection risks, vascular access best practices, and how IPC teams can support dialysis staff through practical, workflow-based education.

Cold, flu, RSV, and COVID-19 are still circulating, but many people have stopped paying attention. This article breaks down how to recognize the differences between common respiratory illnesses, explains overlapping symptoms, and outlines practical steps health care and dental professionals can take to reduce transmission. From hand hygiene and masking to staying home when sick and vaccination awareness, the piece reinforces why everyday prevention still matters during respiratory virus season.

Infection prevention professionals are facing a critical breaking point. New survey data reveal widespread understaffing, rising burnout, and systemic undervaluation that threaten patient safety, outbreak readiness, and health system resilience.

The global health community mourns the loss of William Foege, MD, MPH, a visionary leader whose work helped eradicate smallpox and redefine outbreak response worldwide. His legacy of surveillance, community engagement, and ethical leadership continues to shape infection prevention, vaccination strategy, and global public health for generations to come.

Leprosy remains rare, curable, and widely misunderstood. In this World Leprosy Day interview, infectious disease expert Matthew Pullen, MD, breaks down current epidemiology, transmission risk, and what IPC professionals need to know to respond with evidence-based care—not fear.

Inclusive perioperative teams are safer teams. In this fourth installment of an interview with Infection Control Today, Colleen Becker, PhD, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, explains how teams that reflect the communities they serve improve communication, trust, and infection prevention across the perioperative continuum. When staff feel heard and valued, risks are identified earlier and patient safety is strengthened.