Evolving Technologies for Decontaminating Healthcare Environments

Infection Control Today® is honored to announce it is reviving the Infection Control Today’s Educator of the Year Award™. For more information, please listen to Linda Spaulding, RN, CIC, the 2003 Winner of the Infection Control Today’s Educator of the Year Award.

Many infection preventionists (IPs) disagree on the minimum requirement to have the IP position. Let Infection Control Today know your opinion. Answer this poll, and send your thoughts to Senior Editor Tori Whitacre Martonicz at tmartonicz@mjhlifesciences.com.

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are vital for maintaining air quality in health care facilities. They play a crucial role in reducing disease transmission by regulating air quality. Proper HVAC systems decrease risk through ventilation, filtration, and airflow control.

Medical investigators are concerned about a triple threat this winter with COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. Vaccination is crucial, but distribution challenges remain. Wearing masks, hand hygiene, and ventilation is important to prevent infections. Hospitals need comprehensive plans to respond efficiently.

Cases of COVID-19, RSV, and influenza are expected to rise this fall and winter season; yet, the number of people who plan on getting the vaccines for each of the infections remains low, according to the NFID announcement today.

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.