What Were the Biggest Infection Prevention Stories This Week? Ebola's Outpaced Response, Lyme Coinfection Data, and Sterile Processing Burnout Explained, and more
|Articles|June 3, 2019
June 2019 Bug of the Month
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Infection Control Today is bringing back a much-loved feature, Bug of the Month, which helps educate readers about existing and emerging pathogens of clinical importance in healthcare facilities today. Each column explores the Bug of the Month's etiology, the infections it can cause, the modes of transmission, and ways to fight its spread. The pathogen profiles will span bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic species. We encourage you to use Bug of the Month as a teaching tool to help educate healthcare personnel and start a dialogue about about microbiology-related imperatives.
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The knowledge used to prevent infections can also be misused. Through a personal reflection on gaming, AI, and biological research, an infection preventionist explores why faster answers make human judgment, peer consultation, and accountability increasingly important.
A study of 193,260 individuals found overlapping tick-borne antibody levels more frequently among those with Lyme antibodies, highlighting diagnostic challenges when active coinfections are not confirmed.
A shifting mask or fogged eyewear can interrupt focus when precision matters most. Dana Weaver Storm, MHA, BSN, RN, examines the challenges of prolonged surgical mask use and how perioperative leaders can support comfort, visibility, and consistent adherence.
What happens when one disinfectant cannot satisfy every IFU? At AHE in New Orleans, Diane Cullen discusses weighted risk assessment, documenting difficult decisions, and why infection prevention and EVS need to work together.
Turnover pressure can leave critical OR cleaning steps unfinished. Karen deKay, MSN, RN, EBP-C, CNOR, CIC, FAPIC, examines common gaps in environmental hygiene and how shared responsibilities, attention to disinfectant contact time, and ongoing education can help teams strengthen practices between cases.
A patient with fever and no recent travel could still have dengue. Florida’s local transmission highlights why clinicians and infection preventionists should look beyond travel history and recognize warning signs.
High contact follow-up rates suggest progress, but who is being missed? Inside the DRC’s Ebola response, shortages, strained treatment centers, and gaps in community trust reveal a more complicated story.
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