Quick Hit: A Conversation With Anthony Fauci, MD: What Challenges Face Infection Preventionists in the Coming Year
Anthony Fauci, MD, always has a lot on his plate. The internationally known immunologist who first broke into the limelight with his groundbreaking work on HIV/AIDS in the 1980s is today the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Still, Fauci was recently able to pause long enough to talk to Infection Control Todayabout 2019’s progress and 2020’s challenges.
Infection Control Today:What would you consider to be the most urgent threat for infection preventionists heading into 2020?
Fauci:The issue of anti-vaxx remains one of the most serious threats for measles, influenza, and a number of other threats.
ICT:CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, MD, called for the ending of HIV infection by 2030 and you laid out that plan in February in JAMA Network. Would you call that the watershed moment in infection control in 2019?
Fauci:Our plan to end the HIV epidemic in the US by 2030 represents an important commitment from the highest levels of government and certainly can be considered as a watershed moment in infection control in 2019.
ICT:What role should infection preventionists play in antibiotic stewardship programs in healthcare facilities?
Fauci:Antibiotic stewardship is critical to thwart the development and spread of antibiotic resistant microbes. Infections preventionists should be proactive in endorsing and adhering to antibiotic stewardship.
ICT: This year, the CDC added Candida auris and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacterto its urgent threats list. Do you see any more pathogens possibly being added to that list in 2020?
Fauci: Given the growing problem of [antimicrobial resistance], I am certain that there will be others added to the list over the coming years; however, it is difficult to predict right now which these will be.
ICT: You’ve been an internationally renowned fighter of deadly infections for decades. What is your take on the current state of hand hygiene?
Fauci: Hand hygiene is a critical part of infection control and it should be more strongly enforced and monitored.
ICT: What can we do to better encourage compliance with hand hygiene?
Fauci: Explanation of its importance and enforcement by hospital officials.
ICT: Any ideas about how environmental service teams can function better to prevent infection in a healthcare system?
Fauci: Closer cooperation and coordination between environmental service teams and hospital epidemiologists and infection control teams.
Tackling Health Care-Associated Infections: SHEA’s Bold 10-Year Research Plan to Save Lives
December 12th 2024Discover SHEA's visionary 10-year plan to reduce HAIs by advancing infection prevention strategies, understanding transmission, and improving diagnostic practices for better patient outcomes.
Point-of-Care Engagement in Long-Term Care Decreasing Infections
November 26th 2024Get Well’s digital patient engagement platform decreases hospital-acquired infection rates by 31%, improves patient education, and fosters involvement in personalized care plans through real-time interaction tools.
The Leapfrog Group and the Positive Effect on Hospital Hand Hygiene
November 21st 2024The Leapfrog Group enhances hospital safety by publicizing hand hygiene performance, improving patient safety outcomes, and significantly reducing health care-associated infections through transparent standards and monitoring initiatives.
The Importance of Hand Hygiene in Clostridioides difficile Reduction
November 18th 2024Clostridioides 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.
