Infection Intel, IDWeek 2023 Edition

Budget cuts to the CDC threaten disease surveillance, outbreak response, and public health programs, increasing risks from measles, avian flu, and future pandemics while straining health care infrastructure nationwide.

Health care-associated infections pose a global threat. In the op-ed, experts advocate for Far-UVC light as a safe, effective tool to reduce airborne pathogens, enhancing infection control in hospitals and public spaces.

Infection Control Today's Editorial Advisory Board member and contributing editor, Heather Stoltzfus, MPH, RN, CIC, recently joined the Stand Up for Science rally in Washington, DC. She gives a first-person perspective on the rally and the rally-goers' strong message.

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

Experts Niobis Queiro, MBA, and Imamu Tomlinson, MD, MBA, discuss how Medicaid cuts could impact infection prevention, reduce vaccinations, and strain health systems, exacerbating health disparities.

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.