Prevention

As COVID-19 restrictions eased up, other respiratory viruses began circulating alongside SARS-CoV-2. It's crucial to identify cases and understand the symptoms of these infections to track the evolution of the virus and what health care workers should look out for.

Infection preventionists (IP) can come from many different backgrounds. This is 1 opinion from 1 very successful IP who doesn't have an RN or a BSN and the bullying that sometimes occurs.

The interaction between the respiratory viruses SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and RSV, poses ongoing challenges. Personal protective measures, testing, and vaccination are critical components of our strategy to mitigate the impact of these viruses.

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today®’s highlights for the week ending September 24, 2023.

Deborah Birx, MD, highlights concerns about the lack of data-driven action in the fight against COVID-19. She emphasizes the need for timely alerts and empowering communities to protect vulnerable individuals.

Deborah Birx, MD, discusses the significance of collaboration, innovation, data-driven decision-making, and community engagement in public health. Her insights underscore the need for trust-building and adaptability in pandemic response.

Doe Kley, MPH, RN, T-CHEST, LTC-CIP, CIC, speaks to Infection Control Today about her presentation and other exceptional presentations at the Association for the Health Care Environment (AHE) Exchange Conference & Solution Center

A new preventative vaccine has been developed incorporating technology funded by the NIH since 2004. The trials will be conducted in the United States and South Africa.

Ambassador Deborah Birx, MD, discusses whether students should be required to wear masks to protect themselves and others and what the public should know about the newest COVID-19 variant, B.A.2.86.

Randomized controlled trials show masks are effective. With COVID-19, even one mistake in protective gear usage could lead to infection and obscure results.

In this Hot Topics in IPC, Saskia v. Popescu, PhD, MPH, MA, CIC, FAPIC, discusses COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, Legionella infections from transplants, and hospital leadership.

Plague doctors' historical attire was an early form of PPE. While modern PPE has improved, the quest for better, more comfortable protection continues as we aim for a future where health care workers can provide care confidently.

Health care environmental professionals met in Dallas, Texas, from July 31 to August 2, 2023, at the AHE Exchange Conference & Solution Center. Infection Control Today® asked Rock Jensen, AHE advisory board chair and administrative director of support services for Yuma Regional Medical Center in Arizona, about AHE’s areas of emphasis for leadership in environmental services (EVS).

The Healthy People 2030 initiative aims to improve the health of the United States’ population through research and developmental objectives through the end of the decade.

Ambassador Deborah Birx, MD, answers the persistent question of whether mRNA technology is safe in the long term.

“Once people started to get infected and reinfected despite being vaccinated, their interpretation then is this vaccine doesn't work…. But [the COVID-19 vaccine] was never designed, studied, tested, or released to protect against infection.” --Ambassador Deborah Birx, MD

Hepatitis C cases increased in 2021, while A and B decreased. The pandemic may have impacted the progress.

The updated vaccines are projected to offer strong defense against the presently circulating COVID-19 variants. Who should be vaccinated?

The "Strategies to Prevent Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections" document has been updated by the Compendium of Strategies to Prevent Health Care-Associated Infections. It is sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology and developed by over 100 experts from various organizations.

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today®’s highlights for the week ending September 10, 2023.

Health Watch USA’s annual conference will examine many aspects of long COVID with speakers from across the globe on November 1, 2023, from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM EST.

In this Hot Topics in IPC, Saskia v. Popescu, PhD, MPH, MA, CIC, FAPIC, discusses whether masks need to return for COVID-19, Virginia’s outbreak, and interesting articles to read.

September is Sepsis Awareness Month, and a recently published study examines what patients and health care workers know—and fear—about sepsis.

Here you will see where to nominate an exceptional infection control and prevention educator for the Infection Control Today®’s Educator of the Year Award™.

In 2003, the CDC recommended hospitals to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. Later, they advised hospitals to closely supervise cleaning procedures near patients. This article explains what IPC personnel need to know about ATP testing.