Weekly Rounds: Preventing HAIs with Updated Sterilization and Quality Control Processing
Summary: Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today’s highlights for the week ending March 18.
Here are 5 highlights from ICT®’s wide-ranging coverage of the infection prevention and control world. Everything from interviews with known opinion leaders, to the news that infection preventionists and other health care professionals can use on their jobs.
1. Preventing HAIs with Updated Sterilization and Quality Control Processing
ANSI/AAMI’s update on endoscope processing is backed by rigorous scientific evidence.
2. Evidence Shows Students Need to Wear Masks Despite Disinformation
Multiple studies and reports show that masks in schools are effective, safe, and necessary because COVID-19 is not going away.
3. Pfizer CEO: Third Dose Is Good, But Fourth is Needed for COVID-19
Pfizer CEO, Albert Bourla, said in nationally televised interview that it is necessary to fend off waning protection.
4. Number of Staff, Not Ownership, Is Predictor of Nursing Home COVID-19 Outcomes
Ratings, ownership, and prior infection control citations of facilities were not consistent outcome indicators.
5. Elevated HAI Rates During COVID-19 Associated With Increased Premium Pay, Agency Hours
The study examined the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on specific types of infections, including MRSA and CDIs.
Invisible, Indispensable: The Vital Role of AHRQ in Infection Prevention
March 25th 2025With health care systems under strain and infection preventionists being laid off nationwide, a little-known federal agency stands as a last line of defense against preventable patient harm. Yet the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is now facing devastating cuts—threatening decades of progress in patient safety.
The Sterile Processing Conference Survival Guide: How to Make the Most of Your Next Event
March 25th 2025From expert speakers to cutting-edge tools, sterile processing conferences, like the 2025 HSPA Annual Conference and the SoCal SPA's Spring Conference, offer unmatched opportunities to grow your skills, expand your network, and strengthen your department's infection prevention game.
Redefining Material Compatibility in Sterilization: Insights From AAMI TIR17:2024
March 24th 2025AAMI TIR17:2024 provides updated, evidence-based guidance on material compatibility with sterilization modalities. It offers essential insights for medical device design and ensures safety without compromising functionality.
