®’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. Not 'Just' Sterile Processors: HSPA Talks Industry Changes Ahead of Annual Meeting 

Staff shortages, public recognition, and moving out of the medical field are all issues that the sterile processing industry has faced.

2. Teaching Nursing Students COVID-19 Safe Practices Through Serious Games 

Developers designed a game to teach infection prevention during COVID-19 to senior nursing students.

3. Mutated SARS-CoV-2 Detected in White-Tailed Deer in Ontario

The virus may have found yet another stable host in the white-tailed deer population.

4. Diversity Can Be Best Ally for Infection Preventionists

Perspectives from a diversity of health care workers improve the care and outcomes of patients.

5. Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 While Keeping Kids in School: A Case Study 

The benefits of a systematic, multi-layered approach utilizing various methods to prevent and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 to keep children in school.

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?

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 IP staff, but on all who interact within the hospital, from environmental services teams to those planning and building new construction.   

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.  

Hand Hygiene

 hand hygiene page examines the practice of hand hygiene, from the proper methods to adherence among hospital staff. Will greater recognition of hand hygiene’s importance in curbing the spread of infections translate into better adherence among hospital staff and the public? This page features videos that demonstrate exactly how to conduct hand hygiene properly, articles recapping peer-reviewed literature on the latest advances in monitoring and adherence, as well as the popular "Bug of the Month" feature. 

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today’s highlights for the week ending March 4. 


Weekly Rounds: Sterile Processors, Serious Games, and More