Weekly Rounds with Infection Control Today: Lambda Variant, Animal COVID Hosts, Vaccine Milestone
Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today’s highlights for the week ending August 6.
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.
More Data Point to Lambda Variant’s Potential Lethality
Data show how the lambda COVID-19 variant could possibly elude vaccines. One of the lead researchers of a new study calls lambda “a potential threat to the human society.”
Lambda Variant, COVID-19 Animal Hosts Present Deadly Mix
Data collected by Britain’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, Japanese researchers, and the US Department of Agriculture paint a picture of a growing challenge.
As US Reaches Vaccine Milestone, Question of COVID Booster Shots Persists
The WHO wants a moratorium on COVID-19 booster shots until poorer countries can catch up to richer countries in getting first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines into the arms of citizens.
Younger People in US Getting Hit Hard by Delta Variant
The Delta variant is burning through areas in the country where many people are unvaccinated and seems to be targeting younger Americans aged 50 and under and, says one ER physician, they’re “more intensive to care for.”
COVID-19 Booster Shots for Older Americans Might be Needed
Should older people get boosters? The data from Israel indicate that this needs to be given strong consideration in those above 60 years old who were fully vaccinated by the end of January.
IP Lifeline: Navigating Moments of Uncertainty
March 1st 2025In this installment of IP Lifeline, Heather Stoltzfus, MPH, RN, CIC, in uncertain times, encourages us to focus on what we can control, adapt to challenges, trust our values, and keep moving forward. Together, we can navigate any storm.
Antibiotic Stewardship in Long-Term Care: Leveraging McGeer and Loeb Criteria for Better Outcomes
February 28th 2025Antibiotic stewardship in long-term care facilities relies on McGeer and Loeb criteria to guide infection surveillance and appropriate prescribing, ensuring better outcomes for residents and reducing resistance.
Oral Parasites and Periodontal Disease: The Hidden Threat to Dental Health
February 28th 2025Entamoeba gingivalis and Trichomonas tenax are protozoan parasites linked to periodontal disease. Emerging research highlights their role in oral inflammation, tissue destruction, and worsening gum disease.
Rare Disease Month: Nipah Virus—It Is From Bats!
February 28th 2025For Rare Disease Month, Rebecca Leach, MPH, BSN, RN, CIC, writes on Nipah virus, a rare but deadly zoonotic disease that poses a significant public health threat. With high mutation potential and no cure, prevention and awareness are critical.
Beyond Civil Rights: Black Trailblazers in Medicine and Infection Prevention
February 28th 2025Black History Month should celebrate pioneers like Drs William Hinton, Daniel Hale Williams, and Charles Drew, whose medical breakthroughs revolutionized infection prevention, surgery, and blood preservation.
