Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today’s highlights for the week ending August 12.
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.
CDC Radically Cuts COVID-19 Guidelines Right as School Year Begins: Not All Experts Approve
Ambassador Deborah Birx, MD, infectious disease expert, and a former director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH, weigh in on that agency's significantly changed quarantine and distancing guidelines.
Contamination of Point-of-Care Ultrasound Transducers Alarms Key Clinician
Using ultrasound transducers is often necessary in the emergency department, but too often the proper procedures to protect against health care associated infections are not followed, and clinicians are worried.
Déjà vu? Langya Virus, New Novel Virus, Identified in China
Identified in at least 35 people in eastern China, a new type of henipavirus, Langya virus, is suspected to have infected shrews before jumping to humans.
Is Polio Resurging? Readers’ Questions Answered by Infectious Disease Expert
Infection Control Today® asked Matt Pullen, MD, the questions from our readers about the NY polio patient.
Infection Preventionists’ Detective Work Stopped an Outbreak of CRAB
A carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) cluster was identified and stopped because of due diligence of the infection preventionists at an acute care facility in Louisiana.
Weekly Rounds: Four Years of COVID-19, AORN 2024 Conference Coverage, and More
March 18th 2024Here are 5 highlights from Infection Control Today®'s (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.
Four Years After COVID-19: What Has the Infection Prevention Community Learned?
March 15th 2024Four years ago today, March 15, 2020, the COVID-19 lockdown began, and since then, the world has undergone significant changes. It has been a terrifying experience for everyone, especially for the infection prevention community, both within and outside of the health care sector. However, a crucial question remains unanswered: What has the infection prevention community learned from this pandemic, and where does it go from here?
Empowering Safety: A Massachusetts General Hospital Team Is Pushing for Smoke-Free ORs
March 13th 2024At the AORN’s International Surgical Conference & Expo 2024, a team from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) showcased their transformative project, "Becoming Smoke-Free in the OR." This initiative underscored the critical need for smoke evacuation in surgical settings.
Hand Hygiene Practices in the Operating Room: A Collaborative Endeavor
March 13th 2024As explained on a poster at AORN 2024, perioperative nurses and infection preventionists unite in a proactive campaign to elevate hand hygiene within the operating room, resulting in improved adherence, decreased infections, and fortified patient outcomes.
COVID-19 Harmonization: Balancing Risks and Benefits of CDC's Latest Move
March 11th 2024The CDC's recent decision to align recommendations for respiratory viruses, particularly COVID-19, has garnered support from the public and infectious disease societies. However, as the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) lends its backing to the CDC's harmonization efforts, concerns persist regarding the implications of this shift, especially considering the Omicron variant's unique characteristics and the ongoing challenges posed by COVID-19's multi-system impacts.
Elevating Surgical Safety: The Role of a Surgical Infection Preventionist
March 10th 2024Amidst the complex dance of scalpels and sterile fields in surgical theaters, a silent guardian stands vigilant—the surgical infection preventionist. Poster author, Charles Vickery, Jr, BSN, RN, CIC, CRST, of AdventHealth Central Florida, unveils the indispensable role of this health care sentinel at AORN's International Surgical Conference & Expo 2024.