More than 10 years ago President Bill Clinton signed into law the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act (NSPA), designed to make more specific the requirement by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that employers identify, evaluate and implement safer medical devices, especially addressing occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens from accidental sharps injuries in healthcare and other occupational settings. Experts say that sharps safety awareness is slipping off the radar of healthcare workers and infection preventionists must emphasize sharps safety as part of the infection prevention program.
A Controversial Reboot: New Vaccine Panel Faces Scrutiny, Support, and Sharp Divides
June 26th 2025As the newly appointed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met for the first time under sweeping changes by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the national spotlight turned to the panel’s legitimacy, vaccine guidance, and whether science or ideology would steer public health policy in a polarized era.
Getting Down and Dirty With PPE: Presentations at HSPA by Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski
June 26th 2025In the heart of the hospital, decontamination technicians tackle one of health care’s dirtiest—and most vital—jobs. At HSPA 2025, 6 packed workshops led by experts Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski spotlighted the crucial, often-overlooked art of PPE removal. The message was clear: proper doffing saves lives, starting with your own.