Weekly Rounds: New COVID-19 Variants, Robotic Surgery Challenges, and more
Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today’s highlights for the week ending May 13.
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.
AB.4 and BA.5 Variants, Pandemic Fatigue, and Waning Immunity: A Toxic Mix
Few individuals in the United States are currently wearing masks, and many are continuing to engage in risky behavior. This may well be a toxic mix, and healthcare facilities and infection preventionists need to prepare for another possible surge in cases.
Robotic-Assisted Surgery Presents Unique Sterile Processing Challenges
Sterile processing of robotic surgery instruments and other complex instruments require complex methods.
Web-Based Hand Hygiene Application Improves HCW Compliance
Swiss hospital developed and implemented “Clean Hands,” and the results are significant over paper data collection.
An IP’s Newest Weapon: CBIC's LTC Certification
Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc (CBIC) is debuting a new certification for infection preventionists (IPs) who work in long-term care (LTC) settings.
Team Effort Significantly Reduces Hospital-Onset C-difficile Infections
The interprofessional team implemented multiple evidenced-based interventions that demonstrated sustained compliance.
“A Coup Against Science”: Health Groups Decry Kennedy’s Firing of National Vaccine Advisory Panel
June 12th 2025Health leaders are outraged after HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. abruptly fired all 17 members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, calling it a political purge that threatens public trust and vaccine safety.
AHE Exchange Summit 2025 Brings EVS and Infection Prevention Experts Together in Columbus, Ohio
June 9th 2025The Association for the Health Care Environment (AHE) is set to host its largest event of the year—Exchange Summit 2025—from June 8 to 11 in Columbus, Ohio. With over 600 environmental services (EVS) professionals expected to attend, this year’s conference focuses heavily on infection prevention, interdepartmental collaboration, and education that empowers frontline health care support leaders to improve patient safety and operational efficiency.
