Amber Wood MSN, RN, CNOR, CIC, FAPIC, talks with ICT about her 2 presentations at the 2023 AORN annual conference, and how important the conference is to her and everyone who attended.
Amber Wood MSN, RN, CNOR, CIC, FAPIC, senior perioperative practice specialist at the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), spoke with Infection Control Today® (ICT®) about her 2 presentations at the Association of PeriOperative Nurses (AORN) 2023 Conference in San Antonio, Texas, held from April 1-4, 2023. Woods’ presentations were “Updated AORN Guidelines for Processing Flexible Endoscopes” and “PREP-IT: Skin Antisepsis for Open Fractures.”
Wood discussed her presentations, including whether the AORN’s guidelines differ from AAMI’s or whether the associations work together to create 1 set of guidelines. She mentioned that the one significant change that AORN made is, “We found many studies about the issues we have with the drying of endoscopes, how that retain moisture in into scopes have led to patient infections, biofilm development, contamination, and just a lot of concerns there. There is a new recommendation to dry endoscopes with pressure-regulated instruments or HEPA filters for a minimum of 10 minutes.
When asked what she hoped attendees would take away from this year’s AORN conference, Wood said, “More than ever, I felt the need for us to come together to focus on our well-being and mental health and [to support] each other. There's been a fun vibe here of socializing, connecting, and supporting each other as our field has struggled. We've been struggling with burnout and supply chain issues. There have been so many challenges.”
Wood acknowledges the many changes and challenges of the perioperative profession in the last few years. “We want safe care for patients. These are many changes to [our] practice. We need to help each other implement [them and] help each other figure things out. I love attending [the AORN] conference because you get all these nurses together. And we help each other figure things out….But we are better together, and we are going to come up with solutions. There are no limits to what we'll do. That's our theme this year—' No limits.’ That's what we want to take away. There are no limits to what we can do.”
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.
Broadening the Path: Diverse Educational Routes Into Infection Prevention Careers
July 4th 2025Once dominated by nurses, infection prevention now welcomes professionals from public health, lab science, and respiratory therapy—each bringing unique expertise that strengthens patient safety and IPC programs.
How Contaminated Is Your Stretcher? The Hidden Risks on Hospital Wheels
July 3rd 2025Despite routine disinfection, hospital surfaces, such as stretchers, remain reservoirs for harmful microbes, according to several recent studies. From high-touch areas to damaged mattresses and the effectiveness of antimicrobial coatings, researchers continue to uncover persistent risks in environmental hygiene, highlighting the critical need for innovative, continuous disinfection strategies in health care settings.