Top 7 Infection Control Today Articles of 2024: Insights and Innovations
From advanced sterilization methods to combating antimicrobial resistance, Infection Control Today’s top articles of 2024 delivered actionable strategies for safer healthcare environments and improved patient outcomes.
Top 7 ICT articles of 2024
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Infection Control Today® (ICT®) provides the latest news and studies on infection prevention and control. In 2024, ICT continued as a trusted resource, publishing hundreds of articles tailored for infection preventionists, sterile processing technologists, epidemiologists, and environmental hygienists.
These articles addressed critical topics like emerging pathogens, sterilization protocols, environmental hygiene best practices, and innovative tools to ensure patient and caregiver safety. By providing actionable insights and evidence-based strategies, ICT empowers health care professionals to enhance infection prevention measures in their facilities. With its extensive content, ICT remains an essential ally for those at the forefront of health care, ensuring safer environments and improved patient and staff outcomes.
Let’s revisit ICT’s top articles of 2024!
Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers Ineffective Against Norovirus: Effective Alternatives and Infection Control Strategies
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not protect against norovirus, a highly contagious virus. Effective alternatives like hypochlorous acid-based sanitizers are crucial for better infection control.
Understanding AAMI ST108:2023: Essential Guide to New Water Quality Standards in Health Care
Water, essential in health care, from hygiene to medical procedures. AAMI's ST108 sets new standards, vital for patient safety and equipment integrity.
Dengue Epidemic in Puerto Rico? What Should Visitors and Residents Know
Puerto Rico declared a dengue public health emergency with 549 cases this year, up from 1293 in 2023. What should visitors and residents know to protect themselves?
Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Personality and Brain Function: A Grim Reality or a Wake-Up Call?
Opinion: Kevin Kavanagh, MD, examines a summary of studies on how COVID-19 may damage the brain's frontal lobes, alter personality traits and cognitive functions, and potentially reshape society's dynamics.
Understanding and Mitigating H5N1, Avian Flu Risks in Cattle and Beyond: Insights from Ramon Zegpi Lagos, DVM, PhD Ramon Zegpi Lagos, DVM, PhD, discusses H5N1 (avian flu), risks, transmission dynamics, preventive measures, and ongoing research at The Ohio State University.
Addressing Sterile Processing Instrument Errors With Advanced Technology and Data Insights
Surgical instrument errors, often linked to visualization failures during sterile processing, pose significant risks to patient safety and OR efficiency. Advanced technologies, including AI, are essential for reducing these errors and improving overall outcomes in sterile processing departments.
IP LifeLine: Keeping it Together When Things Fall Apart: Maintaining Balance When Life Gets Messy
Balancing personal struggles and professional responsibilities during crises requires self-awareness, self-compassion, healthy boundaries, and support networks. Embrace these strategies to navigate and overcome challenges.
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Reducing Hidden Risks: Why Sharps Injuries Still Go Unreported
July 18th 2025Despite being a well-known occupational hazard, sharps injuries continue to occur in health care facilities and are often underreported, underestimated, and inadequately addressed. A recent interview with sharps safety advocate Amanda Heitman, BSN, RN, CNOR, a perioperative educational consultant, reveals why change is overdue and what new tools and guidance can help.
New Study Explores Oral Vancomycin to Prevent C difficile Recurrence, But Questions Remain
July 17th 2025A new clinical trial explores the use of low-dose oral vancomycin to prevent Clostridioides difficile recurrence in high-risk patients taking antibiotics. While the data suggest a possible benefit, the findings stop short of statistical significance and raise red flags about vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), underscoring the delicate balance between prevention and antimicrobial stewardship.
What Lies Beneath: Why Borescopes Are Essential for Verifying Surgical Instrument Cleanliness
July 16th 2025Despite their smooth, polished exteriors, surgical instruments often harbor dangerous contaminants deep inside their lumens. At the HSPA25 and APIC25 conferences, Cori L. Ofstead, MSPH, and her colleagues revealed why borescopes are an indispensable tool for sterile processing teams, offering the only reliable way to verify internal cleanliness and improve sterile processing effectiveness to prevent patient harm.
The Next Frontier in Infection Control: AI-Driven Operating Rooms
Published: July 15th 2025 | Updated: July 15th 2025Discover how AI-powered sensors, smart surveillance, and advanced analytics are revolutionizing infection prevention in the OR. Herman DeBoard, PhD, discusses how these technologies safeguard sterile fields, reduce SSIs, and help hospitals balance operational efficiency with patient safety.
Targeting Uncertainty: Why Pregnancy May Be the Best Time to Build Vaccine Confidence
July 15th 2025New national survey data reveal high uncertainty among pregnant individuals—especially first-time parents—about vaccinating their future children, underscoring the value of proactive engagement to strengthen infection prevention.
