.  She has been a writer and editor for over 30 years.  She has an MA and BA in English Composition/Literature from the University of Akron in Akron, OH.  

Here are 5 highlights from ICT®’s wide-ranging coverage of the infection prevention and control world. Everything from interviews with known opinion leaders, to the news that infection preventionists and other health care professionals can use on their jobs.

Can C difficile Infection Be Spread Via Hospital Beds?

A patient has a higher risk of infection of C difficile in a hospital bed that previously held a patient who also had C difficile.

Candida auris Rapidly Recontaminates Surfaces Around Patients’ Beds Despite Cleaning and Disinfection

Candida auris environmental contamination is unlikely to be adequately controlled because re-contamination occurs within hours after disinfection.

Surface Disinfection Incompatibility Does Not Support Effective Cleaning and Disinfection

The surface material and product damage caused by new advances in disinfection technology must be addressed for patient safety.

Environmental Measures Disrupt Transmission of HAIs

Time, staff, and budget constraints make it difficult to expand HAI mitigation programs despite the obvious and urgent need to do so.

WHO’s World Hand Hygiene Day for Infection Preventionists: Unite for Safety: Clean Your Hands

PDI’s director of clinical affairs speaks with ICT® about the annual focus on the most fundamental way to protect patients and health care workers alike.

Surface Disinfection

Prevention

 prevention page contains news and information on the latest updates on all facets of infection prevention. From vaccinations and immunizations to controlling air and water flow in a health care system, preventing infections falls not only on the IP staff, but on all who interact within the hospital, from environmental services teams to those planning and building new construction.   

HAIs

 health care-acquired infections (HAIs) page presents updates on the latest techniques and strategies in the never-ending battle between infection preventionists and HAIs. Focusing on the latest in medical literature, we also present perspectives from the top infection preventionists and other medical experts in the country about how to put the growing knowledge of HAIs into use in the everyday world of infection prevention. Articles and videos often focus on methods to contain and control pathogens and multidrug-resistant organisms from spreading within the health care system.

Hand Hygiene

 hand hygiene page examines the practice of hand hygiene, from the proper methods to adherence among hospital staff. Will greater recognition of hand hygiene’s importance in curbing the spread of infections translate into better adherence among hospital staff and the public? This page features videos that demonstrate exactly how to conduct hand hygiene properly, articles recapping peer-reviewed literature on the latest advances in monitoring and adherence, as well as the popular "Bug of the Month" feature. 

Operating Room

 operating room page provides news articles and videos on the intersection between surgery and infection prevention. The operating room is a prime breeding ground for harmful pathogens to spread, resulting in surgical site infections. The role of the infection preventionist, together with the perioperative nursing staff, is to craft policies and processes to cut down on these infections and ensure patient safety during surgical procedures. 

Personal Protective Equipment

personal protective equipment page offers written and video content on the proper use and—during the time of COVID-19 surges—reuse of PPE, including masks, respirators, gloves, gowns, face shields, goggles, and more. What are the proper donning and doffing methods? How long can PPE be extended? How are these items decontaminated? What comprises proper fit testing? Our experts will tell you.

Environmental Services

 environmental services (EVS) page recognizes the team responsible for sanitation and cleaning within the health care system. EVS personnel are an integral component of infection prevention in the hospital, working closely together with the health care staff to ensure patient safety and hygiene standards. 

 keeps a close eye on developments in the environmental services industry and reports on any peer-reviewed literature. This page also features video interviews with EVS and the professionals who interact with them.

Advanced Technology

 advanced technology page allows readers to stay up-to-date on new technologies aimed at preventing infection, such as ultraviolet disinfection, real-time locating systems, foggers, sterilization robots, automation, virtual reality technology during hospital design, and more. Articles and videos focus on explaining the role of these various technologies within the health care system and how infection prevention professionals can integrate them into everyday use.

Sterile Processing

 sterile processing page provides an inside look into the sterile processing (or central supply) department in the hospital where surgical instruments are cleaned, sterilized, and reprocessed in order to disinfect, remove bioburden, and prep for upcoming procedures. Sterile processing applies to not only the knives, scalpels, scissors, forceps, and clamps used in surgery, but also instruments such as endoscopes and duodenoscopes. 

 reports on the latest technology but also on the means to disinfect that technology. Also, the trend toward making more disposable surgical equipment. What does that mean for the sterile processing team?

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today’s highlights for the week ending May 6.


Weekly Rounds: C diff and Candida auris Recontamination, Disrupting HAI Transmission, and More