Weekly Rounds: Implementing Enhanced Barrier Precautions, Urgent Findings on Long COVID, and More
Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today’s highlights for the week ending October 27, 2024.
Weekly Rounds with Infection Control Today
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 news reports about infection preventionists and other health care professionals can be used in their jobs.
Educator of the Year Nomination Acceptance Ends on Friday, November 1, 2024
We recognize the critical role of infection control in our field, but have you considered the educators who enable it? ICT is searching for the Educator of the Year, an individual whose commitment to education has greatly enhanced infection control methods. Time is running out! Nomination acceptance ends on Friday, November 1, 2024.
Pathogen Pulse: Updates on Whooping Cough, Oropouche Fever, and Avian Influenza
This Pathogen Pulse highlights: Whooping cough, oropouche fever, and avian influenza. Read on to get caught up on the latest.
How Climate Change Impact Is Changing Infectious Disease Patterns
Peter Rabinowitz, MD, MPH, discusses how climate change, including extreme weather and temperature shifts, is reshaping the spread of infectious diseases like dengue, leptospirosis, and Valley fever.
Insights From Industry Experts: Developing Vaccines for Rare Diseases
Phyllis Arthur, MBA, and David Thomas, CFA, from BIO provide insights into challenges, investment trends, and policy considerations for developing vaccines targeting rare diseases.
Long COVID: Urgent Findings, Including Brain Alterations, Call for Renewed Public Health Focus
New research highlights long COVID’s global impact, cognitive decline, and societal consequences, urging renewed focus on prevention, including vaccination, mask use, and better air quality.
Study Highlights Successes and Challenges in Implementing Enhanced Barrier Precautions in Nursing Homes
Research finds Enhanced Barrier Precautions reduce MDRO transmission in nursing homes, though challenges persist with gown usage, education, and comfort during high-contact care activities.
Newsletter
Stay prepared and protected with Infection Control Today's newsletter, delivering essential updates, best practices, and expert insights for infection preventionists.
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.
