®’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.

1. Preventing HAIs with Updated Sterilization and Quality Control Processing

ANSI/AAMI’s update on endoscope processing is backed by rigorous scientific evidence.

2. Evidence Shows Students Need to Wear Masks Despite Disinformation

Multiple studies and reports show that masks in schools are effective, safe, and necessary because COVID-19 is not going away.

3. Pfizer CEO: Third Dose Is Good, But Fourth is Needed for COVID-19

Pfizer CEO, Albert Bourla, said in nationally televised interview that it is necessary to fend off waning protection.

4. Number of Staff, Not Ownership, Is Predictor of Nursing Home COVID-19 Outcomes

Ratings, ownership, and prior infection control citations of facilities were not consistent outcome indicators.

5. Elevated HAI Rates During COVID-19 Associated With Increased Premium Pay, Agency Hours

The study examined the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on specific types of infections, including MRSA and CDIs.

Prevention

 prevention page contains news and information on the latest updates on all facets of infection prevention. From vaccinations and immunizations to controlling air and water flow in a health care system, preventing infections falls not only on the infection prevention staff, but on all who interact within the hospital, from environmental services teams to those planning and building new construction.   

Mask Respirator

COVID-19

 COVID-19 page brings readers the latest information and clinical updates on the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, from case counts and hospitalization rates to data on effective treatments for severe disease and the circulating viral variants.  

HAIs

 health care-acquired infections (HAIs) page presents updates on the latest techniques and strategies in the never-ending battle between infection preventionists and HAIs. Focusing on the latest in medical literature, we also present perspectives from the top infection preventionists and other medical experts in the country about how to put the growing knowledge of HAIs into use in the everyday world of infection prevention. Articles and videos often focus on methods to contain and control pathogens and multidrug-resistant organisms from spreading within the health care system.

Operating Room

 operating room page provides news articles and videos on the intersection between surgery and infection prevention. The operating room is a prime breeding ground for harmful pathogens to spread, resulting in surgical site infections. The role of the infection preventionist, together with the perioperative nursing staff, is to craft policies and processes to cut down on these infections and ensure patient safety during surgical procedures. 

Personal Protective Equipment

personal protective equipment page offers written and video content on the proper use and—during the time of COVID-19 surges—reuse of PPE, including masks, respirators, gloves, gowns, face shields, goggles, and more. What are the proper donning and doffing methods? How long can PPE be extended? How are these items decontaminated? What comprises proper fit testing? Our experts will tell you.

Environmental Services

 environmental services (EVS) page recognizes the team responsible for sanitation and cleaning within the health care system. EVS personnel are an integral component of infection prevention in the hospital, working closely together with the health care staff to ensure patient safety and hygiene standards. 

 keeps a close eye on developments in the environmental services industry and reports on any peer-reviewed literature. This page also features video interviews with EVS and the professionals who interact with them.

Vascular Access

 vascular access page offers the latest insights from vascular access teams in the field, and covers the latest updates on the methods to keep central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) and other infections down to a minimum. 

Long-Term Care

 chronic and long-term care facilities page provides news, updates, and guidance on tackling infection prevention in these unique environments, including nursing homes, skilled nursing centers, and assisted-living facilities. This page includes news on cleaning, disinfection, antibiotic stewardship, hand hygiene, isolation precautions, outbreak protocol, and more as administrators and infection prevention teams seek to curb outbreaks of pneumonia, influenza, 

, urinary tract infections, and skin and soft tissue infections, among others.


Advanced Technology

 advanced technology page allows readers to stay up-to-date on new technologies aimed at preventing infection, such as ultraviolet disinfection, real-time locating systems, foggers, sterilization robots, automation, virtual reality technology during hospital design, and more. Articles and videos focus on explaining the role of these various technologies within the health care system and how infection prevention professionals can integrate them into everyday use.

Sterile Processing

 sterile processing page provides an inside look into the sterile processing (or central supply) department in the hospital where surgical instruments are cleaned, sterilized, and reprocessed in order to disinfect, remove bioburden, and prep for upcoming procedures. Sterile processing applies to not only the knives, scalpels, scissors, forceps, and clamps used in surgery, but also instruments such as endoscopes and duodenoscopes. 

 reports on the latest technology but also on the means to disinfect that technology. Also, the trend toward making more disposable surgical equipment. What does that mean for the sterile processing team?

Summary: Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today’s highlights for the week ending March 18. 


Weekly Rounds: Preventing HAIs with Updated Sterilization and Quality Control Processing