Weekly Rounds with Infection Control Today: Beware Stealth Omicron, How Long is Long COVID?, How IPs Help Patients
Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today’s highlights for the week ending January 28.
Here are 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.
‘Stealth Omicron’ Starting to Get Noticed, Setting Off Some Alarms
Initial data suggest that it appears to be more infectious than even the highly infectious original Omicron variant.
Long COVID Symptoms Last for a Year for Some Patients
This frequency of symptoms 1 year after recovering from severe COVID-19 disease is concerning, as much is still unknown about “long COVID.”
Those Who Believe in Herd Immunity Cannot Do the Math
COVID-19 mutations are evading our immunity and at the same time our immunity is waning. Herd immunity to disease and the eradication of SARS-CoV-2 is no longer possible.
Despite Little Interaction With Patients, IPs Play Huge Role in Keeping Them Safe
The ability to be an excellent infection preventionist requires lifelong learning and taking the initiative to grow professionally.
Infection Preventionist Called on to Rescue Nursing Homes Hit by Omicron
Linda Spaulding, a member of ICT®’s Editorial Advisory Board, and a consultant, plans to fly out to Hawaii later this week to advise her LTCF clients in that state about how best to get through the current surge.
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.
CDC Urges Vigilance: New Recommendations for Monitoring and Testing H5N1 Exposures
July 11th 2025With avian influenza A(H5N1) infections surfacing in both animals and humans, the CDC has issued updated guidance calling for aggressive monitoring and targeted testing to contain the virus and protect public health.
IP LifeLine: Layoffs and the Evolving Job Market Landscape for Infection Preventionists
July 11th 2025Infection preventionists, once hailed as indispensable during the pandemic, now face a sobering reality: budget pressures, hiring freezes, and layoffs are reshaping the field, leaving many IPs worried about their future and questioning their value within health care organizations.
