Shahbaz Salehi, MD, MPH, MSHIA

Clinical Laboratory Science has journeyed from its 1930s roots to become a cornerstone of hospital medicine—powering everything from life-saving diagnoses to advanced molecular testing. But its story isn’t just about history; it’s a roadmap for how other critical fields, like infection prevention, can build strong, standardized pathways for the next generation of professionals. Now is the time to learn from CLS’s evolution and start shaping the future of IPC.

Sterilization is the backbone of safe patient care, but not all methods are created equal. From steam’s tried-and-true reliability to ethylene oxide’s versatility for complex devices and hydrogen peroxide plasma’s rapid, residue-free cycles, each technique carries unique advantages—and limitations. Understanding when and how to use them can mean the difference between seamless infection prevention and costly setbacks.

Once dominated by nurses, infection prevention now welcomes professionals from public health, lab science, and respiratory therapy—each bringing unique expertise that strengthens patient safety and IPC programs.

Despite its critical role in patient safety, infection prevention and control (IPC) remains one of health care’s most misunderstood and understructured professions. While COVID-19 thrust IPC into the spotlight, the field still lacks a clear entry path, standardized training, and broad institutional recognition, leaving many professionals to learn on the job with minimal guidance.

Cutting NIH’s budget by 15% threatens U.S. leadership in medical research, weakens public health preparedness, hinders innovation, and undermines economic growth. Investing in science secures America’s future.

Norovirus and avian influenza outbreaks require infection preventionists to enhance hygiene, train staff, implement PPE use, and ensure effective disinfection to protect health care workers, patients, and facilities.

The US withdrawal from WHO threatens global health collaboration, weakening infection control, disease surveillance, and funding for vulnerable nations, undermining decades of progress in combating infectious diseases worldwide.