Prevention

Social media offers opportunities to showcase sterile processing work, but a single misstep can risk compromising patient privacy, incurring legal consequences, and damaging your facility’s public reputation.

Sterile processing leaders need more than technical expertise—they require business, collaboration, and leadership skills to gain autonomy, improve outcomes, and elevate the role within health care.

With staffing shortages and rising infection risks, the TEPHI 200-Series delivers accessible, high-impact training to empower healthcare professionals and strengthen infection prevention efforts nationwide.

Elizabeth (Betty) Casey, MSN, RN, CNOR, CRCST, CHL, is the SVP of Operations and Chief Nursing Officer at Surgical Solutions in Overland, Kansas. This SPD leader reframes preparation, unpredictability, and teamwork by comparing surgical services to the Kentucky Derby to reenergize sterile processing professionals and inspire systemic change.

Vatsala Srinivasa, MPH's, research uses genomic sequencing to track hospital transmission of respiratory viruses, revealing hidden links and highlighting the potential for improved infection prevention.

Sterile processing departments face high-stakes challenges daily. At AORN 2025, Marjorie Wall outlined transformative strategies to improve safety, efficiency, and cross-departmental collaboration, and also discussed HSPA 2025.

Training EVS workers for hygiene excellence demands more than manuals—it requires active engagement, motor skills coaching, and teach-back techniques to reduce HAIs and improve patient outcomes.

Health care-associated infections are driving a shift toward disposable microfiber cloths, mop pads, and curtains—offering infection prevention, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency in one-time-use solutions.

Bacteriophage therapy presents a promising alternative to antibiotics, especially as antimicrobial resistance continues to increase. Dr. Ran Nir-Paz discusses its potential, challenges, and future applications in this technology.

Reducing surgical site infections goes beyond sterile technique—factors like OR traffic, PPE, and workflow interruptions significantly impact infection risk and patient outcomes.

Sterile processing expert Kevin Anderson urges perioperative nurses to deepen collaboration with SPD teams to enhance OR efficiency, reduce SSIs, and improve patient outcomes.

Without market reform, antimicrobial innovation will collapse. Henry Skinner, PhD, MBE, MJur, CEO of AMR Action Fund, urges global economic action to prevent an antibiotic-free future.

What truly occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic? Is the new COVID.gov website accurate for those who worked in public health throughout the pandemic? A public health worker answers.

Robust infectious disease surveillance, including rapid subtyping of influenza A, is essential for early detection, containment, and public health reporting of novel viral threats.

ICT interviews Damien Berg, VP of strategic initiatives, who promises HSPA education, outreach, and growth. It will empower sterile processing professionals through standards updates, networking, and renewed purpose in patient safety.

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

Telehealth and home care are vital for protecting high-risk patients by minimizing infection exposure, enhancing safety, and supporting prevention with technology-driven, home-based health solutions.

Infection prevention demands strength—but when vulnerability is praised in men and penalized in women, leadership becomes performance, not authenticity. It’s time to challenge that imbalance.

As measles cases rise and vaccine misinformation spreads, Infection Control Today spoke with APIC President Dr Carol McLay about restoring trust in immunization.

A multidisciplinary team tackled low compliance in preoperative bathing, showing that standardization—not product choice—drives surgical site infection prevention and patient safety outcomes.

Veterinary professionals emphasize proactive vaccination, infection control education, and collaboration, highlighting the need for resources and recognition of veterinary IPC’s vital role in One Health.

Mass federal layoffs threaten infection prevention nationwide, with APIC president Carol McLay, DrPH, MPH, RN, CIC, FAPIC, FSHEA, warning of disrupted public health infrastructure, rising HAIs, and a diminished infection control workforce.

As global health systems reel from economic aftershocks, new tariffs and dwindling aid threaten infection prevention in low- and middle-income countries—turning policy decisions into life-or-death realities for millions.

A groundbreaking study reveals a strong connection between alcohol use disorder and increased risk for Clostridioides difficile infection, challenging traditional assumptions and calling for enhanced infection prevention protocols.

These Department of Health and Human Services' layoffs save only 1% of the overall governmental budget. What are we losing when these are gone?

This week’s Infection Control Today’s Hot Topics in IPC discusses the latest in the measles outbreak, biocontainment, Group A Strep, and more.

Communication breakdowns between the operating room and central processing led to delays and frustration—until collaboration, cross-training, and shared goals turned metrics around and strengthened teamwork.

Occupational exposure to surgical smoke significantly alters biological and oxidative stress markers in operating room staff, highlighting urgent risks and the need for improved safety measures.

Houston Methodist West Hospital reduced surgical site infections in hysterectomy and colorectal cases by implementing an intraoperative isolation bundle and checklist to prevent cross-contamination.