Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today®’s highlights for the week ending March 26.
Welcome to the Weekly Rounds with Infection Control Today®! Starting this week, we’ll present 5 highlights from 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.
Antibiotic Stewardship Programs Need Infection Preventionists
Arjun Srinivasan, MD, the associate director for health care association infection prevention programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention talks to ICT® about the CDC’s ambitious new effort to cut down on overprescribing of antibiotics at hospitals by 90%.
With Personal Protective Equipment, 1 Size Does Not Fit All
One of the problems with personal protective equipment (PPE) is that only about a quarter of the PPE out there has been made to fit women, says Beau Wangtrakuldee, PhD. Wangtrakuldee tells ICT® that there are other issues, as well. For instance, hospitals “are trying to figure out how to reuse and recycle protective apparel that works as well as disposables. There are a few benefits to that. For one, reusable and recyclable products could be made and sourced here in the U.S. where we have resources to make that available.”
Nurses Most Likely to Spread Microbes, Says Study
Nurses are more likely to be super spreaders of pathogens because they work so hard, say investigators with the University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands. Nurses are all over the place, moving from patient room to patient room and throughout wards. Educating nurses and other health care professionals about how best to maintain good hand hygiene, and also where best to put alcohol-based hand disinfectants can help address this situation.
How COVID-19 Spread the Word About Infection Prevention
Sharon Ward-Fore, MS, MT(ASCP), CIC, a member of ICT®’s Editorial Advisory Board, tells us that “we’ve learned the hard way that restaurants, office settings, hair salons, fitness centers, and schools have really suffered for the lack of guidance by professionals like infection preventionists.” That presents a problem, however. There are not enough IPs to go around to fill the growing need in health care, let alone non-health care settings.
At-Home COVID-19 Tests Called ‘Staggeringly’ Effective
In their methodology, investigators included almost every possible reason why the at-home COVID-19 tests should not make a difference—and yet conclude that those tests would in fact make a huge difference. They urge readers to focus less on the numbers and more on their conclusion that a nationwide rollout of at-home tests would make both economic and medical sense.
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US Withdrawal From UNESCO Signals a Dangerous Step Back for Global Science
July 22nd 2025In a decision heavy with consequence and light on foresight, the US has once again chosen to walk away from UNESCO, leaving behind not just a seat at the table, but a legacy of global scientific leadership that now lies in question.
Breaking the Cycle of Silence: Why Sharps Injuries Go Unreported and What Can Be Done
Published: July 24th 2025 | Updated: July 23rd 2025Despite decades of progress in health care safety, a quiet but dangerous culture still lingers: many health care workers remain afraid to report sharps injuries, fearing blame more than the wound itself.
Telemedicine's Transformative Role in PPE Distribution and Sterile Equipment Management
July 22nd 2025In an era defined by digital transformation and post-pandemic urgency, telemedicine has evolved beyond virtual visits to become a vital infrastructure for delivering personal protective equipment (PPE) and managing sterile supplies. By enabling real-time forecasting, remote quality control, and equitable distribution, telemedicine is revolutionizing how health care systems protect both patients and providers.
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.