COVID-19

This week's edition of Hot Topics in IPC covers the latest in Trump's executive orders and in avian flu.

This article first appeared as a LinkedIn newsletter from ICT. Subscribe and never miss exclusive articles not found anywhere else.

The US CDC's sudden cutoff from WHO threatens global health security, leaving infection preventionists scrambling to track deadly outbreaks like Marburg virus, mpox, and avian flu.

Norovirus and avian influenza outbreaks require infection preventionists to enhance hygiene, train staff, implement PPE use, and ensure effective disinfection to protect health care workers, patients, and facilities.

Executive orders issued on the first day of the presidency affect various health initiatives.

The US withdrawal from WHO threatens global health collaboration, weakening infection control, disease surveillance, and funding for vulnerable nations, undermining decades of progress in combating infectious diseases worldwide.

Read the latest on the rise of H5N1 avian flu. What happens if it combines with COVID-19? Experts answer the most pressing questions.

Public health mandates, such as lockdowns, masking, and vaccination, balance liberty and safety, ensuring critical protections during pandemics like COVID-19 while fostering long-term survival through science.

Explore why CMS must expand COVID-19, influenza, and RSV reporting to include hospital-onset infections, health care worker cases, and ER trends, driving proactive prevention and patient safety.

Discover how the NHSN 2022 Rebaseline initiative updates health care-associated infection metrics to align with modern health care trends, enabling improved infection prevention strategies and patient safety outcomes.

Learn more about how effective air pressure regulation in health care facilities is crucial for controlling airborne pathogens like tuberculosis and COVID-19, ensuring a safer environment for all patients and staff.

The CDC HICPAC discussed updates to airborne pathogen guidelines, emphasizing the need for masks in health care. Despite risks, the committee resisted universal masking, highlighting other mitigation strategies

Clostridioides difficile infections burden US healthcare. Electronic Hand Hygiene Monitoring (EHHMS) systems remind for soap and water. This study evaluates EHHMS effectiveness by comparing C difficile cases in 10 hospitals with CMS data, linking EHHMS use to reduced cases.

Masking, clean air, and vaccinations are essential in combating COVID-19 and preventing long-term impacts, as evidence mounts of long COVID's significant economic, cognitive, and behavioral effects.

A 3-D approach to infection control involves air and surface cleaning, leveraging monitoring, purification, and modeling technologies to reduce respiratory infection risks in health care environments.

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today’s highlights for the week ending October 27, 2024.

The past 5 years in medicine have seen significant advances in RNA vaccines, understanding immune dysregulation, and improved interspecialty communication, promising better disease eradication and tailored treatments.

New research highlights long COVID’s global impact, cognitive decline, and societal consequences, urging renewed focus on prevention, including vaccination, mask use, and better air quality.

Novavax’s COVID-19-Influenza Combination vaccine faces a clinical hold after a trial participant developed motor neuropathy, pending further investigation by the FDA.

Nurse practitioner (NP) and Physician Assistant (PA)-led practices offer autonomy, flexible schedules, and smaller patient loads, which could help mitigate burnout while reducing pressure on traditional healthcare systems and improving infection prevention.

Isolation rooms are essential for infection control in health care, relying on specialized design, advanced cleaning protocols, and technology to prevent cross-contamination and safeguard patient safety.

Immunocompromised patients face heightened risks during medical visits. To ensure safer health care appointments, prepare by understanding COVID-19 transmission, masking, ventilation, and exposure.

A recent study explores individual, organizational, and environmental factors influencing home care providers' adherence to facial protective equipment (FPE) to improve future pandemic preparedness.

Read today's updates on COVID-19 and Mpox vaccines and a study released today on doubling syphilis detection in the emergency department.

As influenza and COVID-19 circulate in long-term care facilities, prompt testing, isolation precautions, and antiviral treatments are crucial for preventing outbreaks and protecting vulnerable residents.

Discover Tamara Behm's journey in seeking an IP leadership role, her passion for patient safety, and advice for job-seeking professionals in infection prevention, in this discussion with ICT’s IPLifeline.

Read this informative article on mitigating central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in acute care settings, which is crucial for enhancing patient safety.

Pharmacies, with their widespread locations and extended hours, have become vital access points for vaccinations, particularly in underserved communities. They provide convenience, education, and trusted health care services to millions across the US.

The 2024 surge in infectious diseases like mpox, measles, and meningitis demands a paradigm shift in control strategies, emphasizing expanded expertise, improved airborne precautions, and rethinking cost-effectiveness in healthcare to prevent future outbreaks and protect public health.

As infectious diseases resurge in 2024, this article explores how IPs can manage outbreaks, allocate resources, use technology for surveillance, and collaborate with senior leaders to ensure business continuity and patient safety in health care settings.