Occurrence of STDs Growing
ASHA Encourages Testing
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC- Chlamydia and gonorrhea affect 4-5 million sexually active Americans every year and the number is growing. April was National STD Awareness Month, and the American Social Health Association (ASHA) encouraged all sexually active people to get tested. Testing can be done through a variety of methods. Some tests use swabs to collect bodily fluid. Becton Dickinson offers a test using a urine sample and a biotechnological diagnostic system. Once diagnosed, chlamydia and gonorrhea are easily treatable. The big scare with chlamydia, the most common bacterial STD, is it does not have any discernable symptoms. ASHA President and Chief Executive Officer Linda L. Alexander says, "When you have a cold, your nose runs. When you have an allergic response to poison ivy, you itch. But you can have chlamydia and feel fine." If untreated, chlamydia can lead to infertility.
CDC Urges Vigilance: New Recommendations for Monitoring and Testing H5N1 Exposures
July 11th 2025With avian influenza A(H5N1) infections surfacing in both animals and humans, the CDC has issued updated guidance calling for aggressive monitoring and targeted testing to contain the virus and protect public health.
IP LifeLine: Layoffs and the Evolving Job Market Landscape for Infection Preventionists
July 11th 2025Infection preventionists, once hailed as indispensable during the pandemic, now face a sobering reality: budget pressures, hiring freezes, and layoffs are reshaping the field, leaving many IPs worried about their future and questioning their value within health care organizations.
A Helping Hand: Innovative Approaches to Expanding Hand Hygiene Programs in Acute Care Settings
July 9th 2025Who knew candy, UV lights, and a college kid in scrubs could double hand hygiene adherence? A Pennsylvania hospital’s creative shake-up of its infection prevention program shows that sometimes it takes more than soap to get hands clean—and keep them that way.
