Weekly Rounds: ESBL-Producers, Home Infusion Therapy, Lowering SSIs, and More
Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today®’s highlights for the week ending January 20, 2023.
Here 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.
Preventing Infections in Cancer Patients at Home
Information for health care workers and patients to protect patients from infections.
Routine Change of Surgical Gloves/Instruments Significantly Lowers SSIs
A study clearly shows that surgical site infections (SSIs) can be reduced by changing surgical gloves and instruments before the closing abdominal wound closure.
Moderna: Vaccine Shown Effective Against RSV in Older Adults in Phase III Trial
Moderna announced encouraging news about its RSV mRNA-1345 vaccine and plans to submit for regulatory approval in the first half of 2023.
Considerations for Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)-Producers in Nursing Homes
Information for infection preventionists to manage ESBL-producers even while fighting against COVID-19.
Home Infusion Therapy: Study Shows Significant Lack of Formal Infection-Surveillance Training
New study shows home infusion therapy staff have significant barriers to infection-surveillance training, and this could be leading to higher infection rates.
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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.
