Prevention

Whether it is a birthday, an anniversary, or no reason at all, infection prevention personnel love to give and receive gifts that help at the end of a stressful day. Infection Control Today® offers gift ideas for prevention personnel and their families.

Colorado reports that the transmission source has not yet been identified.

Katharine J. Hoffman, MPH, CIC, LSSGB: It’s time to take the devil out of the details in interpreting and successfully following manufacturers' instructions for use; why do manufacturers need to update IFUs?

Beginning a new infection prevention position can be daunting. Check out the latest IP LifeLines article by Brenna Doran, PhD, MA, ACC, CIC, on mastering the transition.

The "90’s SwipeSense Club" significantly improved hand hygiene adherence at Novant Health Thomasville Medical Center. By incentivizing adherence through 1990s-themed rewards and using SwipeSense technology to track hygiene practices, the hospital increased adherence rates from 53% in 2021 to 84% by May 2024.

The updated ANSI/AAMI ST24 standard outlines requirements for ethylene oxide sterilizers in health care, addressing advancements, regulatory changes, and new technology to enhance sterilization practices and safety.

Consistent infection prevention (IP) rounding in ambulatory clinics fosters compliance, collaboration, and education, improving infection prevention through relationship-building and just-in-time learning.

William Shutze, MD, FACS, discusses how infection prevention impacts vascular health, emphasizing key strategies and the role of vascular surgeons in maintaining vascular well-being.

June is CMV Awareness Month, and infection preventionists are urged to focus on transmission, symptoms, and prevention of this widespread yet often overlooked viral infection.

TigerConnect's secure text-based platform, led by Will O'Connor, MD, reduces noise, minimizes wait times, and improves patient care through efficient clinical workflow coordination and nurse burnout alleviation.

Michael L. Kaufman, PhD, MSW, discusses his book, which challenges the notion that compassion in helping professions limits career ambition, emphasizing that it's possible to achieve both professional success and societal impact.

Health care-associated infections (HAIs) affect over 680,000 patients annually in the U.S. Unlike manual methods, automated hand hygiene monitoring can significantly improve compliance and reduce HAIs.

Leslie Kollmann, BS, CVT, CIC, speaks with Infection Control Today about veterinary infection prevention at the APIC Conference and Exposition held in San Antonio, Texas, from June 3 to 5, 2024.

Negative perceptions of safety climate among nurses are linked to reduced adherence to standard precautions, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve patient safety culture.

Infection preventionists can now streamline policy management with APIC’s PolicyPro, a subscription-based platform offering customizable, evidence-based IPC policies for health care facilities.

Chaitenya Razdan, CEO and founder of Care+Wear, discusses the development of adaptive clothing for patients with PICC lines and NICU infants, focusing on comfort, dignity, and infection prevention.

A study at the 2024 APIC conference observed MRSA and Pseudomonas contamination in a new children's outpatient pulmonary clinic during construction and after patient use, highlighting significant infection risks.

During delivery, babies can acquire infections if they come into contact with pathogens present in the birth canal or from the mother’s genital tract.

Recent medical advances include RNA vaccine technology, enhanced understanding of immune dysregulation, improved inter-specialty communication, deeper insights into inflammation, and recognition of biological complexity.

Meet the experts shaping infection prevention: Infection Control Today's Editorial Board members share insights, experiences, and cutting-edge strategies to enhance health care safety and quality. Meet Henry Spratt, Jr, PhD.

Infection prevention during childbirth, via vaginal or cesarean delivery, is crucial for maternal and neonatal health. Strategies include strict hygiene, sterile techniques, and antibiotic prophylaxis to reduce postpartum infection risks.

Enhanced barrier precautions (EBP) in nursing homes are vital to prevent multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) transmission, address antimicrobial resistance, and ensure resident safety and well-being.

Nature Communications published the results of a study on ARCT-154, CSL’s sa-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. The study showed that it is well-tolerated, immunogenic, and effective against multiple strains.

Brooke Hossfeld MPH, CIC, MLS (ASCP)CM presented the need for standardized infection prevention protocols across health care settings, addressing challenges from retiring workers to HAIs infections in outpatient facilities at APIC24.

Infection Control Today sat down with Tania Bubb, PhD, RN, CIC, FAPIC, the president of the 2024 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

In-person training significantly improves health care workers' PPE practices and infection prevention knowledge, addressing gaps left by virtual methods and enhancing overall patient safety and care quality.

Sage Memorial Hospital, Navajo Health Foundation in Arizona tackles health care and infection control challenges through innovative strategies and cultural sensitivity, serving the Navajo community with respect and resilience.

At the APIC24 conference, infection preventionists learned to combat imposter syndrome, gaining confidence and resilience through empowering keynotes from Simon T. Bailey and Lisa Sun.