Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today’s highlights for the week ending September 30.
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.
Sepsis: Earlier Detection With New Clinical Surveillance Tool
A sepsis diagnosis is expensive and deadly, and early detection and treatment are key to saving lives. However, sepsis is not always easy to diagnose early, so a new advanced analytics surveillance tool can increase the chances of an improved outcome.
How to Obtain Better Hand Hygiene Adherence: Ideas From Health Care Workers on the Floor
Many studies have been done on how to increase hand hygiene adherence. However, ICT® decided to go to the source and ask the health care workers themselves why they do not always follow hand hygiene.
Inpatient and Outpatient Clinics Must Monitor Fomites as Part of IPC Protocols
Thorough cleaning and disinfection reduce the role fomites play in the spread of disease.
Investment in Environmental Services Saves Money and Lives, Boosts Morale: An Example From Geneva
Environmental services teams (EVS) are crucial players in ensuring patient satisfaction and combating health care–associated infections, yet, too many EVS teams are invisible. They deserve recognition, and this article by environmental hygiene experts explains why and how to give appreciation effectively.
The 3 C’s: Communication
How infection preventionists communicate with those individuals with whom they interact is a tightrope of how to do it well and effectively. Read this article from readers' favorite, Heather Saunders, MPH, RN, CIC, to find out how to not fall off that tightrope in her second of 3 series on the 3'Cs of how to be a successful IP.
Second Strain of Bird Flu Found in US Dairy Cows: What It Means for Infection Prevention and Control
February 7th 2025A new H5N1 strain was found in Nevada dairy cows, challenging earlier transmission theories. This raises concerns about animal vulnerability, human health risks, and food safety. Experts emphasize the need for improved surveillance, biosecurity, and cross-sector collaboration to contain the virus spread.
Fungal Infections: The Silent Epidemic Threatening Global Health
February 6th 2025Fungal infections are a rising global threat, with antifungal resistance complicating treatment. Neil J. Clancy, MD, emphasizes the urgent need for research, better diagnostics, and stronger infection prevention strategies.
Hiding in Plain Sight: The Most Harmful and Costly Hospital-Acquired Infection
February 5th 2025Nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) is a deadly, overlooked infection impacting patient outcomes. With new diagnostic tools and prevention strategies, hospitals must prioritize oral hygiene to reduce risk.
Gag Order Puts Public Health at Risk, APIC Urges Immediate Action
February 4th 2025APIC warns that the HHS gag order on CDC communications endangers public health, delaying critical infection updates and weakening outbreak response amid rising tuberculosis, avian flu, Ebola, and measles threats.