Authors


Jack Murtha

Latest:

Are Your Healthcare Workers Armed With the Right Vaccinations?

Alma Jackson, PhD, RN, COHN-S, discusses how to overcome this occupational hazard.


Saskia v. Popescu, PhD, MPH, MA, CIC, FAPIC

Latest:

IPC Hot Topics for March 24, 2025: US Health Leadership, Measles, and More

This week's Infection Control Today's Hot Topics in IPC discusses US health leadership, H5N1, and more.


Frank Diamond

Latest:

Calculating Return-to-Work COVID-19 Policies Is a Balancing Act for Hospitals

Investigators concluded that HCPs can safely return to work after 7 days of quarantine if they test negative for COVID-19 on days 5 to 7.


Rebecca Leach, MPH, BSN, RN, CIC

Latest:

How Ultrasonic Cleaning Enhances Patient Safety

Ultrasonic cleaners enhance sterile processing by removing microscopic bioburden, ensuring safer medical instruments, reducing infection risks, and improving efficiency compared to manual cleaning alone.



Kevin Kavanagh, MD

Latest:

H5N1 Avian Flu Crisis: The Growing Threat to US Food Supply and Public Health

The growing H5N1 avian flu outbreak threatens public health and food security. Without urgent action, mutations could spark human-to-human transmission, creating the next global pandemic.


Grant M. Gallagher

Latest:

Lily, NIAID Launch Phase 3 Prevention Trial Centered on Nursing Homes

Despite a clear record of violations across the country, amid a culture where sick staff were asked to show up for work, lawmakers in several states have also potentially disincentivized improvement of infection control standards in long-term care facilities by providing legal liability protections ahead of time.



William A. Rutala, PhD, MPH, CIC

Latest:

Focus on Surface Disinfection When Fighting COVID-19

Many studies have shown that disinfection of surfaces is suboptimal and effective disinfection requires not only an effective product but also, effective practice. The surface must be completely and thoroughly wiped with an adequate number of antimicrobial wipes effective against the target pathogen and a contact time specified by the label instructions.


Richard Lowe, PhD, MPH

Latest:

Select Effective Disinfectants for Use Against the Coronavirus That Causes COVID-19

Regulatory and public health agencies in the US provide clear guidance on what products may be used in outbreaks of emerging pathogens.


Jan Dyer

Latest:

Preventing Influenza in the Health Care Setting

Because of mask-wearing and social distancing, numbers of influenza cases have been down the last 2 years. However, experts say numbers this year could go back up to numbers in prior years. The public and health care workers alike need a nudge to get vaccinated.


David J. Weber, MD, MPH

Latest:

Focus on Surface Disinfection When Fighting COVID-19

Many studies have shown that disinfection of surfaces is suboptimal and effective disinfection requires not only an effective product but also, effective practice. The surface must be completely and thoroughly wiped with an adequate number of antimicrobial wipes effective against the target pathogen and a contact time specified by the label instructions.


Linda Spaulding, RN-BC, CIC, CHEC, CHOP

Latest:

Preparing for a Candida auris Outbreak in Long-Term Care

As more and more residents in long-term care facilities get Candida auris, infection preventionists must know how to prevent, prepare for, and control a C auris outbreak. An expert explains how.



Lindsay Calderon, PhD

Latest:

Lessons of the Hydroxychloroquine Debacle: Solid COVID-19 Research Matters

We are forced to act on best evidence, but in some cases the evidence is less than actionable.


Deborah Chung

Latest:

Don’t Let Hand Hygiene Standards Dip When COVID-19 Ebbs

Most healthcare staff understand the importance of hand washing, but visual cues for staff and patients are essential in the ongoing education of hand hygiene best practices and are especially helpful for nurses working long shifts. 


Christopher Whiting

Latest:

Breaking the Chain: How to Better Contain Infection Risk During Hospital Construction

Renovation or construction that happens in preexisting spaces or occupied areas have very different sets of challenges than the building of new facilities.


Holly Montejano, MS, CIC, CPHQ, VA-BC

Latest:

Touch Screens: The High-Touch Surfaces Hiding in Plain Sight

In order to effectively achieve a safe healthcare environment where frequently used touch screen technology is both ubiquitous and mobile, education must be provided to highlight the appropriate products and practices for cleaning/disinfection and hand hygiene.