Weekly Rounds: Urgent Need for PPE, Enhancing Polio Surveillance, and More
Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today®’s highlights for the week ending April 7, 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.
Ensuring Safety and Comfort: The Urgent Need for Well-Fitted PPE in Health Care
Personal protective equipment (PPE) stands as the first line of defense against infectious diseases in health care. Yet, the issue of ill-fitting PPE, especially for women, remains a significant challenge.
Enhancing Poliovirus Surveillance: Key Insights for Infection Prevention Personnel
The fight against poliovirus continues with renewed urgency as recent surveillance data reveals both progress and persistent challenges. In a critical update, infection prevention personnel are presented with key insights into the ongoing battle against this scourge.
How to Be Confident in Your Disinfection: UV-C Disinfection, Dosimeter Cards, and Audits
Recent research in the American Journal of Infection Control reveals gaps in routine hospital disinfection, highlighting the need for UV-C audits. Learn how to validate UV-C dosages effectively and conduct successful audits.
Borealpox Virus: Alaska Renames Orthopoxvirus With Broader Implications
Discover Alaska's borealpox virus, formerly Alaskapox, now named for its ecosystem origins. Learn about this orthopoxvirus affecting humans and small mammals, with prevention insights.
Dengue Epidemic in Puerto Rico? What Should Visitors and Residents Know
Puerto Rico declared a dengue public health emergency with 549 cases this year, up from 1293 in 2023. What should visitors and residents know to protect themselves?
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Reducing Hidden Risks: Why Sharps Injuries Still Go Unreported
July 18th 2025Despite being a well-known occupational hazard, sharps injuries continue to occur in health care facilities and are often underreported, underestimated, and inadequately addressed. A recent interview with sharps safety advocate Amanda Heitman, BSN, RN, CNOR, a perioperative educational consultant, reveals why change is overdue and what new tools and guidance can help.
New Study Explores Oral Vancomycin to Prevent C difficile Recurrence, But Questions Remain
July 17th 2025A new clinical trial explores the use of low-dose oral vancomycin to prevent Clostridioides difficile recurrence in high-risk patients taking antibiotics. While the data suggest a possible benefit, the findings stop short of statistical significance and raise red flags about vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), underscoring the delicate balance between prevention and antimicrobial stewardship.
What Lies Beneath: Why Borescopes Are Essential for Verifying Surgical Instrument Cleanliness
July 16th 2025Despite their smooth, polished exteriors, surgical instruments often harbor dangerous contaminants deep inside their lumens. At the HSPA25 and APIC25 conferences, Cori L. Ofstead, MSPH, and her colleagues revealed why borescopes are an indispensable tool for sterile processing teams, offering the only reliable way to verify internal cleanliness and improve sterile processing effectiveness to prevent patient harm.
The Next Frontier in Infection Control: AI-Driven Operating Rooms
Published: July 15th 2025 | Updated: July 15th 2025Discover how AI-powered sensors, smart surveillance, and advanced analytics are revolutionizing infection prevention in the OR. Herman DeBoard, PhD, discusses how these technologies safeguard sterile fields, reduce SSIs, and help hospitals balance operational efficiency with patient safety.
Targeting Uncertainty: Why Pregnancy May Be the Best Time to Build Vaccine Confidence
July 15th 2025New national survey data reveal high uncertainty among pregnant individuals—especially first-time parents—about vaccinating their future children, underscoring the value of proactive engagement to strengthen infection prevention.
