News|Articles|February 16, 2024

Weekly Rounds: Rare Diseases, VR Training, Antivaccine Influencers, and More

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today®’s highlights for the week ending February 17, 2024.

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.


Alaskapox Virus: First Fatal Case Sparks Statewide Concerns and Expanded Surveillance Efforts

The first death from Alaskapox virus (AKPV) raises alarm in Alaska, prompting expanded surveillance efforts statewide to understand and prevent potential infections.

Saskia v. Popescu, PhD, Discusses How to Prepare for Rare Infectious Diseases
Health care workers must stay vigilant against rare pathogens. Saskia v. Popescu, PhD, MPH, MA, FAPIC, an expert in infection prevention, emphasizes the importance of robust measures and preparedness.

Comparing Effectiveness of VR, Face-to-Face, and Video Training for PPE Skills During the COVID-19 Pandemic

VR training is a game-changer in PPE skills for health care amidst COVID-19. Study shows superiority over traditional methods, revolutionizing safety education, according to a study published today.

Unveiling the Rise of Antivaccine Influencers Amid COVID-19: Insights From Stephanie Alice Baker, PhD

Stephanie Alice Baker, PhD, delves into the surge of antivaccine influencers during COVID-19, highlighting their impact on vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.

Leishmaniasis: No Longer Just a Tropical Disease—Now Endemic in the US

A senior microbiologist gives audiences of sister brands, Infection Control Today and Contagion, an insight into leishmaniasis, a potentially fatal disease.


Related to this article

Image of Pathogens flying   (Adobe Stock weerasak)
Behind every landmark in infection prevention, from antimicrobial stewardship guidelines to the COVID-19 town halls that reached flight attendants and teachers, is a generation of physician-scientists who led SHEA through crises, organizational change, and scientific breakthroughs. Infection Control Today traces 30 years of SHEA presidents and the lasting mark they left on the field.
A group of students raising their hands in class during a lecture  (Adobe Stock 292282454 by Mediteraneo
How do you celebrate an infection that never happened? That's one of the unusual challenges infection preventionists share with teachers. Both can spend their careers changing outcomes they may never see. Both educate people who don't always want to listen. Both are second-guessed. Both face burnout. And both must somehow keep remembering why they started.
Water  (Adobe Stock 456102510 by stockphoto-graf)
Understanding current water quality is a starting point for ST108 implementation. John Kimsey, vice president of processing optimization and customer success for STERISS, spoke about his HSPA presentation on assessing readiness, distinguishing system qualification from routine testing, and understanding where water samples should be collected.