Prevention

In a historic Senate hearing, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced bipartisan fury over vaccine misinformation, as public health leaders demanded his resignation to protect science and safety.

A joint statement from leading medical and public health groups calling for HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s resignation underscores the urgent need for infection preventionists to defend science-driven care and safeguard community health.

Experts say AI tools can forecast outbreaks and guide staffing, but limitations remain; technology cannot capture unpredictable tasks or reduce the heavy baseline workload of infection preventionists.

With Florida becoming the first state to eliminate all vaccine mandates, infection preventionists face mounting challenges in safeguarding communities against vaccine-preventable outbreaks.

Infection prevention is too often the first program cut when budgets tighten, but experts warn that underfunding leaves hospitals vulnerable. Stronger policies, bigger rewards, and robust vaccination programs are critical to protecting patients and communities.

Infection prevention isn’t one-size-fits-all. Regional disparities, from rural staffing shortages to California’s strict regulations, demand tailored strategies, stronger collaborations, and targeted funding to protect patients everywhere.

Hospital readiness is no longer just about staff and equipment—it’s about infrastructure. From flooding to infection risks, restoration now plays a vital role in protecting patients and ensuring uninterrupted care.

Fewer than 14% of infection prevention departments receive staffing support from other hospital units, leaving infection preventionists stretched thin. Experts warn that this lack of collaboration undermines patient safety and strains already limited resources.

Dr. Demetre Daskalakis wrote in his resignation letter: "Having worked in local and national public health for years, I have never experienced such radical non-transparency, nor have I seen such unskilled manipulation of data to achieve a political end rather than the good of the American people. Enough is enough.”

This installment of the interview with study authors, survey data reveal rising hours and responsibilities for infection preventionists, with staffing shortages fueling burnout risks and threatening the safety of both patients and health care workers.

Infection preventionists emerged from the COVID-19 crisis carrying heavier workloads, broader responsibilities, and fewer resources. A new study reveals the toll and the urgent need for support.

As hospitals turn to UVC technology to combat health care-associated infections, a new FDA mandate is changing the game—requiring formal authorization for devices that claim to reduce microbial contamination. For infection preventionists and health care leaders, understanding this regulatory shift is now essential to protecting patients and ensuring compliance.

Behind every safe surgery and patient interaction lies a detail often overlooked: clean, properly managed health care textiles. TRSA’s 3-part webinar series brings infection preventionists, administrators, and clinicians the latest best practices, from eliminating the risks of home laundering to ensuring hygienically clean certifications. Now free to access, these sessions offer actionable strategies to strengthen infection control across every facility.

In health care, every decision impacts safety. Yet many facilities still rely on woven towels and blankets to absorb blood and body fluid spills—a risky shortcut that undermines infection prevention, slows workflows, and puts staff at regulatory and safety risk. It’s time to replace outdated habits with engineered, evidence-based solutions designed for today’s high-stakes care environment.

As hospitals face layoffs and budget cuts, the need to demonstrate IPs' measurable impact has never been greater. For IPs, that means transforming your resume into more than a list of duties: it must tell the story of outcomes, savings, and lives protected. Now is the moment to redefine your role—not as a cost center, but as a catalyst for safety, efficiency, and organizational success.

Here are the formal rules for the 2024 Winner of the Infection Control Today’s Educator of the Year Award™.

How can health care facilities and health providers implement point-of-use (POU) instrument care? Here’s a closer look at the entire process, the principles guiding its implementation, and the potential barriers to implementing point-of-use instrument care.

In this installment of Building Bridges in Infection Prevention, what a mattress mistake can cost both patient and facility.

Public health is under attack. The CDC shooting underscores how misinformation fuels mistrust and danger. In this climate, evidence-based protections like masking aren’t optional—they’re essential. Layered strategies remain our best defense against deadly pathogens.

Behind every skilled infection preventionist is an educator who lit the spark. If you know someone who’s shaping the future of safety—1 glove, 1 lecture, 1 student at a time—nominate them now for ICT’s 2025 Educator of the Year.

Clear communication is not just important in a pandemic—it’s everything. In a preview of his upcoming Health Watch USA presentation, William Schaffner, MD, shares lessons from COVID-19 on building trust, keeping messages simple, and acknowledging uncertainty.

In a world full of corrections and checklists, don’t underestimate the quiet power of encouragement. One sentence—spoken with sincerity—can spark confidence, courage, and change. Infection preventionists do more than monitor safety; they shape culture. So today, go beyond reminders. Speak life. Name the good. Someone’s future may depend on it.

VIM-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa isn’t just surviving in ICUs; it’s thriving. With mortality rates exceeding 30%, colonization risks hiding in drains, devices, and even donor milk, IPs must take proactive steps to outsmart this pathogen. Now is the time to double down on environmental controls, risk factor recognition, and surveillance strategies. Let’s break the biofilm cycle before the next outbreak takes root.

Artificial intelligence may be revolutionizing sepsis detection and diagnosis, but can we trust it without strong regulatory guardrails? As AI/ML-enabled medical devices rapidly evolve, IPs must stay informed and involved to ensure safety keeps pace with innovation. Let’s take a closer look at how to advocate for innovative safe implementation.