Surgical Tech Who Infected 36 With Hepatitis C Pleads Guilty
The Associated Press is reporting today that surgical technician Kristen Diane Parker, who has been charged with switching used syringes for those filled with the painkiller fentanyl while working at two different healthcare facilities in Colorado, has pleaded guilty. As many as 36 patients have contracted hepatis C and many others may have been exposed to the virus via the contaminated syringes.
Authorities say she is expected to receive a sentence of 20 years in prison. At a hearing, Parker described for prosecutors how she evaded a hospital's drug screening process and began stealing drugs as she coped with a heroin addiction. To read the rest of the article, CLICK HERE.
I Was There: An Infection Preventionist on the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 30th 2025Deep feelings run strong about the COVID-19 pandemic, and some beautiful art has come out of those emotions. Infection Control Today is proud to share this poem by Carmen Duke, MPH, CIC, in response to a recent article by Heather Stoltzfus, MPH, RN, CIC.
Unraveling a Candida auris Outbreak: Infection Control Challenges in a Burn ICU
March 19th 2025A Candida auris outbreak in a burn intensive care unit (BICU) in Illinois has highlighted the persistent challenges of infection control in high-risk health care settings. Despite rigorous containment efforts, this multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen continued to spread, underscoring the need for enhanced prevention strategies, environmental monitoring, and genomic surveillance.
