Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today®’s highlights for the week ending October 29, 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.
Infection Intel: Moderna, CBIC, Helocyte, Pfizer, UVDI, and CloroxPro
Staying Ahead With Company Updates and Product Innovations. This week's news is from Moderna, CBIC, Helocyte, Pfizer, UVDI, and CloroxPro.
Handheld UV-C Technology: A Solution to Combat Health Care-Associated Infections
A study led by Piyali Chatterjee, PhD, and the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System explores the potential of handheld filtered Far UV-C devices in reducing hospital-acquired infections. Freestyle Partners, LLC, supported this research.
Overcoming Challenges to Eye Device Reprocessing: A 3-Year Study
A recent American Journal of Infection Control study, led by Katharine Hoffman, MPH, CIC, LSSGB, and Lisa Waldowski, DNP, RN, CIC, applies Lean Six Sigma to improve eye device reprocessing. The research highlights the challenges, emphasizes adherence to manufacturer instructions, and promotes best practices for patient safety.
Advancing Infection Prevention: The Value of an In-House Journal Watch
Benjamin Chen, MD, MPH, speaks about how a journal watch in infection prevention keeps professionals updated on research, fosters evidence-based practices, and supports education and quality improvement efforts.
Nominations Close Next Week!: Infection Control Today Educator of the Year Award
Infection Control Today Educator of the Year Award Nominations end on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. Don’t run out of time to nominate an exceptional infection prevention and control educator for this prestigious award.
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.