Year in Review: Surveillance and Epidemiology

A study of 4,851 nursing home residents linked shared rooms to higher odds of matching MDRO carriage, while universal decolonization was associated with lower concordant carriage across MRSA, ESBL, and VRE.

Presented at IDWeek 2026, a living review of 64 studies found the strongest evidence for dengue prevention from mosquito modification, while highlighting substantial uncertainty and research gaps in other approaches to Aedes vector control.

A 2026 IDWeek poster details how respiratory cultures and whole genome sequencing clarified a NICU MRSA outbreak, with targeted prevention measures followed by at least 6 months without additional bacteremias or related respiratory clusters.

Researchers recovered a carbapenemase-producing organism from the shaft of a hospital drain auger, prompting calls for standardized reprocessing protocols and further investigation into maintenance equipment as a potential source of environmental dissemination.

A poster presented at IDWeek was a systematic review of 35 studies that found rare transmission of viral hemorrhagic fever to health care personnel in high-income countries and highlighted the need for standardized exposure definitions to guide response.

Kimberley Brown, PharmD, Head of U.S. Medical Affairs at ViiV Healthcare discusses the evolution of HIV care and how innovative long-acting injectables are expanding options across HIV treatment and prevention.

Clean Hospitals President Alexandra Peters, PhD, explains how training, meaningful support, and stronger collaboration with infection prevention teams can empower environmental services staff and strengthen patient safety.

A proposed hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau raises concerns about delaying newborn protection. This commentary examines the ethical obligations of researchers and the consequences of weakening established prevention efforts.