Year in Review: PPE & Standard Precautions

This week in infection prevention: Kenya’s Bundibugyo virus response shows why execution, not just planning, determines outcomes, and France reported the first known human Shamonda virus infection. Our roundup also covers brucellosis, blood donor screening, and long-acting HIV antibody findings from IDWeek 2026.

An ICU study found that alcohol-based hand rub applied after patient care reduced glove bioburden, while staff raised feasibility concerns. Researchers stress that the practice does not replace glove changes or hand hygiene.

Behind every landmark in infection prevention, from antimicrobial stewardship guidelines to the COVID-19 town halls that reached flight attendants and teachers, is a generation of physician-scientists who led SHEA through crises, organizational change, and scientific breakthroughs. Infection Control Today traces 30 years of SHEA presidents and the lasting mark they left on the field.

Finding infections earlier is only part of the work. At IDWeek 2026, David Weber, MD, MPH, explored how broader surveillance and emerging technologies could help infection preventionists spend more time supporting safer care.

Two experts give an update ahead of the first season with a new mRNA vaccine against flu.

Part 1 of 4: How emerging sterile processing leaders are redefining leadership through trust, accountability, psychological safety, and professional development.

At IDWeek 2026, Jimmy Chang, PhD, discussed investigational HIV antibodies TMB-365 and TMB-380, explaining their complementary mechanisms, early study findings, and ongoing evaluation as a long-acting maintenance regimen.

At IDWeek 2026, Samuel Ntow, MBChB, MPH, discussed research findings of reactive infection screening markers in 18.3% of replacement donor records from rural Ghana, highlighting opportunities for further evaluation and linkage to care.