Weekly Rounds: Four Years of COVID-19, AORN 2024 Conference Coverage, and More

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.

Four Years After COVID-19: What Has the Infection Prevention Community Learned?

Four 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?

Could Empathy Help Overcome Vaccine Hesitancy?

Research findings reveal that correcting misinformation about vaccination can remarkably transform individuals' attitudes toward it. This highlights the crucial role of accurate information in making informed decisions about vaccination.

Empowering Safety: A Massachusetts General Hospital Team Is Pushing for Smoke-Free ORs

At 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

As 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.

Saskia v. Popescu, PhD, Discusses the Measles Resurgence in the US: Vaccination Gaps and Public Health Politics

The surge of measles cases in the United States highlights vaccination gaps and politicization of public health, as CDC urges action amidst rising concerns, writes Saskia v. Popescu, PhD, MPH, MA, CIC.