Wisconsin Scientists Research Earns Her Prestigious Rutala Award
WASHINGTON, D.C.--A University of Wisconsin PhD has been named the recipient of the prestigious William A. Rutala Research Award for her study on the sterile quality of protective sheaths used during endoscopic procedures.
Carla J. Alvarado, PhD, CIC, a research scientist in human factors engineering, will be honored by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) at its annual meeting being held in San Jose this week.
Alvarados research of nasendoscopes, the tube used during endoscopies, and the protective sheath used around the tube during endoscopic procedures, resulted in the discovery that the scopes need not undergo high-level disinfection following use, due to the quality of the sterile sheath surrounding them.
Her abstract, The Evaluation of Nasendoscope Sheaths Used as Protective Barriers, was co-authored by Drs. Ashley Anderson and Dennis Maki, also of the University of Wisconsin, and involved 100 samples used to answer the question does the sheath really provide a sterile instrument?
Her findings have earned her APICs William A. Rutala Research Award, which will be presented during the associations annual meeting. The award is given for the best abstract on the subject of disinfection sterilization, or antisepsis, when an abstract reflects original research or supplements existing data, and is of major importance to the field of disinfection, sterilization and antisepsis.
Alvarado, a member of APIC for nearly 30 years and a former board member who, in 1996, was named APICs first research scholar, is also an expert in patient safety research. Prior to her present position as a human factors engineer she spent 19 years as an infection control professional at the University of Wisconsin Clinics.
Alvarado has previously been honored by APIC when she received the Carol DeMille Award a few years ago and earlier this year received the Elaine Larson Award. The awards are named after those who have made major contributions to the field of infection prevention and control. Alvarado is the only individual to have thus far been named the recipient of all three of these awards.
Source: APIC
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.
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.
Streamlined IFU Access Boosts Infection Control and Staff Efficiency
June 17th 2025A hospital-wide quality improvement project has transformed how staff access critical manufacturer instructions for use (IFUs), improving infection prevention compliance and saving time through a standardized, user-friendly digital system supported by unit-based training and interdepartmental collaboration.
Spring Into Safety: How Seasonal Deep Cleaning Strengthens Hospital Infection Control
June 13th 2025Rooted in ancient rituals of renewal, spring-cleaning has evolved from cultural tradition to a vital infection prevention strategy in modern hospitals—one that blends seasonal deep cleaning with advanced disinfection to reduce pathogens, improve air quality, and protect patients.
AHE Exchange Summit 2025 Brings EVS and Infection Prevention Experts Together in Columbus, Ohio
June 9th 2025The Association for the Health Care Environment (AHE) is set to host its largest event of the year—Exchange Summit 2025—from June 8 to 11 in Columbus, Ohio. With over 600 environmental services (EVS) professionals expected to attend, this year’s conference focuses heavily on infection prevention, interdepartmental collaboration, and education that empowers frontline health care support leaders to improve patient safety and operational efficiency.
