Occurrence of STDs Growing
ASHA Encourages Testing
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC- Chlamydia and gonorrhea affect 4-5 million sexually active Americans every year and the number is growing. April was National STD Awareness Month, and the American Social Health Association (ASHA) encouraged all sexually active people to get tested. Testing can be done through a variety of methods. Some tests use swabs to collect bodily fluid. Becton Dickinson offers a test using a urine sample and a biotechnological diagnostic system. Once diagnosed, chlamydia and gonorrhea are easily treatable. The big scare with chlamydia, the most common bacterial STD, is it does not have any discernable symptoms. ASHA President and Chief Executive Officer Linda L. Alexander says, "When you have a cold, your nose runs. When you have an allergic response to poison ivy, you itch. But you can have chlamydia and feel fine." If untreated, chlamydia can lead to infertility.
Beyond the Surface: Rethinking Environmental Hygiene Validation at Exchange25
June 30th 2025Environmental hygiene is about more than just shiny surfaces. At Exchange25, infection prevention experts urged the field to look deeper, rethink blame, and validate cleaning efforts across the entire care environment, not just EVS tasks.
A Controversial Reboot: New Vaccine Panel Faces Scrutiny, Support, and Sharp Divides
June 26th 2025As the newly appointed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met for the first time under sweeping changes by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the national spotlight turned to the panel’s legitimacy, vaccine guidance, and whether science or ideology would steer public health policy in a polarized era.
Getting Down and Dirty With PPE: Presentations at HSPA by Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski
June 26th 2025In the heart of the hospital, decontamination technicians tackle one of health care’s dirtiest—and most vital—jobs. At HSPA 2025, 6 packed workshops led by experts Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski spotlighted the crucial, often-overlooked art of PPE removal. The message was clear: proper doffing saves lives, starting with your own.
