Weekly Rounds: Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide, Gonorrhea Treatment, Chikungunya, and More
Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today®’s highlights for the week ending January 14, 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.
FDA Recognizes Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide (VHP) as Established Sterilization Method for Medical Devices
FDA designates vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) as an Established Category A sterilization method, reducing reliance on Ethylene Oxide. Boosting innovation for safer, effective medical device sterilization.
Revolutionary Antibiotic-Resistant Gonorrhea Treatment: A Possible Breakthrough with Recce 327
With gonorrhea's rising antibiotic resistance, Recce 327 by Recce Pharmaceuticals emerges as a game-changer, showing 99% efficacy in preclinical trials and promising potential against antibiotic-resistant bacteria globally.
A Breakthrough Approach to Chikungunya Prevention: Understanding T Cell Vaccines
In this final of 3 segments of an interview with ICT, Thomas Rademacher, Emergex co-founder, delves into T cell-based vaccines for chikungunya, likening immune programming to software, emphasizing the urgency of prevention in endemic regions.
SHEA/IDSA/APIC Answer to Diekema, et al, Study on Prevention of MRSA Infection and Transmission
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America/Infectious Diseases Society of America/Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology answer Diekema, et al, about MRSA prevention strategies.
Florida Surgeon General Raises Concerns Over DNA Contaminants in Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines
Joseph A. Ladapo, MD, PhD-ASTHO, calls for the halt of these vaccines; however, the FDA disagrees and says that “misinformation and disinformation about these vaccines…results in vaccine hesitancy.”
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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.
