Weekly Rounds with Infection Control Today: Omicron Threat, Dental Sterilization, Fixing Nursing Homes
Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today’s highlights for the week ending December 17
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.
Omicron’s Mild Symptoms Can’t Mask Danger It Poses
Omicron poses a grave risk to the US health care system. The US has a low rate of vaccination and obtaining boosters, and a relatively large segment of our population is elderly or immunocompromised. A 2-dose mRNA vaccine's immunity appears to rapidly wane and unlike South Africa, many in the US were fully vaccinated very early in the pandemic.
As Delta Spikes in Parts of U.S., Omicron Wave Builds Momentum
Experts worry that the high infectivity of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 will further strain health care systems already dealing with Delta. Expect infection preventionists to be in the thick of it.
Brushing Up on Sterile Processing in Dentistry
Dental instruments may not seem as invasive as the instruments used in medical surgeries, but they still pose the same dangers.
They’re Back: In Face of Omicron, Hand Hygiene, Social Distancing, Masking Needed
The World Health Organization warns that vaccines alone won’t protect health care systems from being swamped.
Changes COVID-19 Brought to Long-Term Care Facilities
Having an infection preventionist on site or as a consultant to lead infection prevention and control training makes a difference. The ability to screen, isolate, or group patients can save lives. Ongoing testing of residents and staff is critical.
“A Coup Against Science”: Health Groups Decry Kennedy’s Firing of National Vaccine Advisory Panel
June 12th 2025Health leaders are outraged after HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. abruptly fired all 17 members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, calling it a political purge that threatens public trust and vaccine safety.
AHE Exchange Summit 2025 Brings EVS and Infection Prevention Experts Together in Columbus, Ohio
June 9th 2025The Association for the Health Care Environment (AHE) is set to host its largest event of the year—Exchange Summit 2025—from June 8 to 11 in Columbus, Ohio. With over 600 environmental services (EVS) professionals expected to attend, this year’s conference focuses heavily on infection prevention, interdepartmental collaboration, and education that empowers frontline health care support leaders to improve patient safety and operational efficiency.
