Prevention

What happens when your hospital is located on an island, and supplies take weeks to arrive? At APIC2026, Emily Frost, MPH, CIC, LTC-CIP, of Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center, shared how a critical access hospital in Alaska uses innovation, collaboration, and hands-on problem-solving to meet infection prevention and regulatory standards despite significant logistical challenges.

A recent hantavirus outbreak linked to an Atlantic cruise ship has raised questions about whether the virus could spark another global health emergency. While experts say the risk of a COVID-19-style pandemic remains low, the outbreak highlights the unique concerns surrounding the Andes virus, the only hantavirus known to spread from person to person. Learn how hantaviruses are transmitted, why the Andes virus is different, the symptoms clinicians should recognize, and what infection prevention and public health professionals need to know about this emerging outbreak.

After identifying 2 colon surgical site infections in 2024, Orlando Health South Lake Hospital implemented a standardized perioperative checklist to improve adherence with colorectal SSI prevention practices. Presented at APIC 2026, the project increased appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis, reduced inappropriate antibiotic use, maintained 100% adherence with clean-dirty instrument protocols, and was associated with the elimination of additional colon SSIs during 2025.

At APIC2026, Monica Pogorzelska-Maziarz, PhD, MPH, CIC, FAPIC, FSHEA, FACE, of Villanova University, received the Elaine Larson Distinguished Scientist Award and reflected on mentorship, collaboration, and research that support infection preventionists across the continuum of care.

"Bourbon tick" isn't a joke, as seen in the latest diagnosed case in Long Island, New York. Bourbon virus is a rare tickborne disease linked to severe illness and growing concern among researchers. Learn the symptoms, risks, and prevention strategies as awareness of this emerging pathogen grows.

Live from APIC 2026 in Nashville, the Contagious Conversations team discussed workforce diversity, AI in infection prevention, professional networking, and why APIC remains essential for infection preventionists at every career stage.

Researchers at Advocate Children's Hospital used genomic sequencing, active surveillance, and targeted infection prevention interventions to investigate and control a NICU CLABSI outbreak. Findings presented at #APIC2026 showed the cluster was not caused by a single hypervirulent MSSA strain but highlighted opportunities to strengthen hand hygiene, line maintenance, and ongoing surveillance.

A poster at the APIC Annual Conference and Exposition held from June 15 to 17, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee. After managing bloodborne pathogen exposures affecting more than 3,000 patients, Providence Health & Services developed a multidisciplinary playbook to improve preparedness, communication, and response during future large-scale events.

An APIC26 poster described a systemwide initiative at Memorial Hermann Health System that improved staff understanding, consistency, and confidence in medical device cleaning and disinfection through education, manufacturer collaboration, and hands-on demonstrations.

As the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda continues to grow, rapid diagnostic testing is emerging as one of the most important tools for outbreak containment. In this interview, Matt Scullion of BioFire Defense explains why the rare Bundibugyo strain presents unique challenges, how modern diagnostic networks have improved since the 2014 Ebola crisis, and why identifying cases quickly may be the most effective intervention when vaccines and treatments are unavailable.

Researchers used whole genome sequencing and traditional epidemiology to trace a cluster of Paraburkholderia fungorum bloodstream infections to contaminated nonsterile ultrasound gel, prompting national safety recommendations.

A quality improvement initiative at Ocean University Medical Center found that reinstating hands-on urinary catheter competency training was associated with a 46% reduction in CAUTIs and improved infection metrics.

A photo-based education activity helped frontline staff recognize infection prevention concerns, discuss common barriers, and strengthen survey readiness in long-term care.

Many people think of pertussis, or whooping cough, as a childhood disease, but experts warn that waning immunity means it can affect people of all ages. In this Q&A, Prof. Ulrich Heininger, MD, discusses why pertussis remains a global public health concern, the serious risks it poses to young infants, and why vaccination during every pregnancy and booster immunizations throughout life are critical to prevention.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will present one of the most complex infectious disease challenges ever faced by infection preventionists and public health officials. Spanning 3 countries, 16 host cities, and millions of international travelers, the tournament creates opportunities for the spread of respiratory illnesses, foodborne diseases, sexually transmitted infections, vector-borne pathogens, and rare high-consequence diseases. While the matches will last only a few weeks, surveillance efforts will need to continue for months afterward as infections such as tuberculosis and other travel-associated diseases emerge.

Mental wellness remains a critical issue for health care workers. After using Brain-Body Therapy for nearly 2 weeks, I found its combination of guided movement, CBT-informed content, and stress-reduction techniques particularly relevant for infection prevention professionals navigating high-pressure environments. Read my review of this innovative app and why it may help support resilience, stress management, and overall well-being.

Test your infection prevention and control knowledge with this IPC-themed crossword puzzle featuring terms and concepts related to hand hygiene, sterilization, PPE, outbreak prevention, and healthcare-associated infections. Designed for health care professionals, the puzzle offers an engaging way to reinforce key IPC principles while promoting education and awareness.

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

When it comes to CLABSIs, the problem is not a lack of knowledge. It is that prevention still depends too heavily on perfect execution inside imperfect systems.

Environmental surfaces remain a critical but often invisible component of infection prevention. In this Q&A, experts discuss how real-time microbial visualization technology may help infection preventionists and environmental services teams identify contamination risks, validate cleaning efforts, and improve environmental surveillance beyond traditional methods.

How plastic‑free wipes are helping hospitals reduce waste while delivering disinfecting performance.

Over the past 30 years, as infection outbreaks, rapid service expansion, and increasingly complex medical devices transformed the landscape, sterile processing rose to the challenge by standardizing, modernizing, and innovating to keep patients safe.

A large real-world study involving more than 430,000 adults aged 65 years and older found comparable effectiveness between adjuvanted and high-dose influenza vaccines, reinforcing current ACIP recommendations and giving health care systems greater flexibility during vaccine procurement and influenza season planning. In this Q&A, Mendel Haag, PhD, senior director of the Center of Outcomes Research & Epidemiology in global medical affairs at CSL Seqirus, discusses vaccine confidence, influenza misinformation, operational barriers to vaccination, and why ongoing real-world evidence remains critical for protecting vulnerable older adult populations.

A new study from leaders at ChristianaCare is shining a spotlight on the growing need for greater autonomy, stronger leadership development, and increased recognition for sterile processing departments within healthcare systems. Researchers found that 43% of SPD professionals reported pressure to bypass sterilization protocols due to operational demands, raising concerns about safety culture, staffing, and perioperative decision-making. In this interview, Kevin M. Bush Jr, EdD, DHSc, MSHA, MA, FACHE, CPHRM, CPHQ, CPPS, CIC, CHES; and Brandon Gantt, DHSc, MHA, LSSGBH, discuss their study and why SPD must be recognized as a clinical safety partner central to infection prevention, surgical safety, and patient outcomes.

Sterile processing departments (SPD) are increasingly being pushed beyond reactive maintenance models as equipment failures, workflow disruptions, and tray defects continue to impact surgical readiness and patient safety. This article explores why SPD may be uniquely positioned for an AI-driven predictive maintenance revolution, examining how systems thinking, IoT integration, human factors research, and real-time equipment monitoring could help reduce disruptions before failures occur. The piece also highlights the growing shift toward treating maintenance as a strategic reliability function tied directly to infection prevention, OR efficiency, and operational resilience across health care systems.