In this Hot Topics in IPC, Saskia v. Popescu, PhD, MPH, MA, CIC, FAPIC, discusses her concerns about COVID-19 and influenza for this winter, and mechanical ventilation and drug-resistant pathogens.
Hot Topics in IPC with Saskia v. Popescu, PhD, MPH, MA, CIC, FAPIC
Influenza and COVID-19 Activity
This is the winter where we expect a tripledemic—COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus, but are we there yet? It’s still early in the respiratory virus season (usually, it starts to hit in later November), but some of the indicators are pointing to hopefully a moderate—and not severe—respiratory syndrome. In terms of COVID-19, the CDC is reporting some key metrics we can take into consideration.
First, the US has an 8.7% test positivity, a slight downward trend from October 15 to 21, 2023, which is the latest reported. Regarding emergency department visits diagnosed with COVID-19, the rate is sitting at 1.3%, down 4.6% from the previous week. What is concerning, though, is that 2.7% of all deaths in the US are due to COVID-19 (during the October 15 to 21 week), which is an increase of 12.5%. In terms of wastewater reporting, the number of sites reporting has dropped, which is concerning, and there’s been an increase in virus levels, all of which should be worrisome—data is critical!
This week in influenza, we’re seeing a relative hold at 1.7% of clinical lab results being positive for influenza (most being influenza A H1N1). There have been over 44k specimens tested during week 42 (again, the week ending October 21st). What is often a canary in the coal mine is outpatient respiratory illness rates; this is up and sitting at 2.5%, and something to watch. If we consider what our colleagues in Australia experienced during their influenza season, it will likely be moderate and hopefully end earlier.
All in all, this is an important time to ensure staff are vaccinated, masking and visitor restriction protocols are in place, and you have solid data metrics to determine actions. Regarding vaccinations, we’re still seeing challenges for many individuals getting the newest booster and with pandemic fatigue. It’s still important for folks to get vaccinated. While it’s likely we won’t see a COVID-19 winter similar to what we’ve already experienced, over time, this drop in immunity due to lackluster vaccination rates could cause larger issues. It’s also helpful to ensure staff have disinfecting wipes out and are reminded that this is for them to. Use them to wipe down the workstations, high-touch surfaces, etc.
Mechanical Ventilation and Drug-Resistant Pathogens
There’s an insightful article that has been recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that discussed the results of a point prevalence study of those patients receiving mechanical ventilation and test positivity for Candida auris, Acinetobacter baumannii (A baumannii), as well as carbapenem-resistant A baumannii (CRAB). In their findings, the researchers noted that “among the 482 patients who had samples collected, 30.7% (148/482) grew A baumannii; 88 of the 148 (59.5%) of these A baumannii were CRAB. In acute care hospitals, 8.2% (23/282) of patients sampled had A baumannii compared with 62.5% (125/200) in long-term care facilities (RR, 7.66 [95% CI, 5.11-11.50], P < .001). For CRAB, 6.4% (18/282) of patients sampled in acute care hospitals were colonized compared with 35.0% (70/200) of patients in long-term care facilities (RR, 5.48 [95% CI, 3.38-8.91], P < .001).
I discussed the findings with one of the researchers, Anthony Harris, MD, MPH, which you can read here in Infection Control Today’s sister brand, ContagionLive– ultimately, we need to start doing more surveillance on vented patients and consider stronger infection prevention and control interventions.
Another tidbit of Knowledge You Might Find Interesting
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Reported in Michigan Deer – That’s right, a 4-year-old doe was diagnosed with CWD, which has been found in several Michigan counties.
Stay prepared and protected with Infection Control Today's newsletter, delivering essential updates, best practices, and expert insights for infection preventionists.
Reducing Hidden Risks: Why Sharps Injuries Still Go Unreported
July 18th 2025Despite being a well-known occupational hazard, sharps injuries continue to occur in health care facilities and are often underreported, underestimated, and inadequately addressed. A recent interview with sharps safety advocate Amanda Heitman, BSN, RN, CNOR, a perioperative educational consultant, reveals why change is overdue and what new tools and guidance can help.
New Study Explores Oral Vancomycin to Prevent C difficile Recurrence, But Questions Remain
July 17th 2025A new clinical trial explores the use of low-dose oral vancomycin to prevent Clostridioides difficile recurrence in high-risk patients taking antibiotics. While the data suggest a possible benefit, the findings stop short of statistical significance and raise red flags about vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), underscoring the delicate balance between prevention and antimicrobial stewardship.
What Lies Beneath: Why Borescopes Are Essential for Verifying Surgical Instrument Cleanliness
July 16th 2025Despite their smooth, polished exteriors, surgical instruments often harbor dangerous contaminants deep inside their lumens. At the HSPA25 and APIC25 conferences, Cori L. Ofstead, MSPH, and her colleagues revealed why borescopes are an indispensable tool for sterile processing teams, offering the only reliable way to verify internal cleanliness and improve sterile processing effectiveness to prevent patient harm.
The Next Frontier in Infection Control: AI-Driven Operating Rooms
Published: July 15th 2025 | Updated: July 15th 2025Discover how AI-powered sensors, smart surveillance, and advanced analytics are revolutionizing infection prevention in the OR. Herman DeBoard, PhD, discusses how these technologies safeguard sterile fields, reduce SSIs, and help hospitals balance operational efficiency with patient safety.
Targeting Uncertainty: Why Pregnancy May Be the Best Time to Build Vaccine Confidence
July 15th 2025New national survey data reveal high uncertainty among pregnant individuals—especially first-time parents—about vaccinating their future children, underscoring the value of proactive engagement to strengthen infection prevention.