Prevention

The CDC’s US Antibiotic Awareness Week emphasizes a One Health approach, uniting humans, animals, and environmental health to fight antimicrobial resistance and promote responsible antibiotic use.

Madhavi Ponnapalli, MD, discusses effective wound care strategies, including debridement techniques, offloading modalities, appropriate dressing selection, compression therapy, and nutritional needs for optimal healing outcomes.

At IDWeek, Invivyd highlighted Pemgarda’s effectiveness under FDA Emergency Use Authorization for immunocompromised patients, demonstrating efficacy against evolving COVID-19 variants since the Omicron strain.

The 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 Cherokee parable of 2 wolves illustrates the importance of emotional intelligence in infection prevention. Feeding the "positive wolf" fosters resilience, collaboration, and meaningful leadership.

Michelle S. Cespedes, MD, MS, discusses the challenges of managing multimorbidity and polypharmacy in HIV treatment, emphasizing patient education, evolving guidelines, and real-world insights from the REPRIEVE study.

Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics revealed promising data on universal influenza vaccine LHNVD-110 and AMR sepsis vaccine LHNVD-303 at IDWeek 2024, addressing critical global health challenges.

Learn how Germitec’s Chronos uses patented UV-C technology for high-level disinfection of ultrasound probes in 90 seconds, enhancing infection control, patient safety, and environmental sustainability.

The CDC HICPAC discussed updates to airborne pathogen guidelines, emphasizing the need for masks in health care. Despite risks, the committee resisted universal masking, highlighting other mitigation strategies

Clostridioides 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.

Masking, clean air, and vaccinations are essential in combating COVID-19 and preventing long-term impacts, as evidence mounts of long COVID's significant economic, cognitive, and behavioral effects.

Virax Biolabs collaborates with the University of Manchester to enhance T-cell diagnostics for long COVID, aiming to improve early detection and treatment of post-viral syndromes. Listen to this interview to learn more.

Perioperative nurses bring vital skills in patient safety, infection control, and quality improvement. They enhance surgical outcomes and support health care systems during complex, high-risk procedures.

Non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) is a prevalent, preventable infection. Improved oral care protocols and provider education are essential to reducing NV-HAP rates and improving patient outcomes.

A 3-D approach to infection control involves air and surface cleaning, leveraging monitoring, purification, and modeling technologies to reduce respiratory infection risks in health care environments.

The health care staffing shortage impacts patient outcomes. Strategies in education, technology, and support roles aim to prepare resilient professionals and enhance job satisfaction amid challenges.

Meet the experts shaping infection prevention: Infection Control Today's Editorial Board members share insights, experiences, and cutting-edge strategies to enhance health care safety and quality. Meet Jenny Hayes, MSN, RN, CIC, CAIP, CASSPT.

Meet the experts shaping infection prevention: Infection Control Today's Editorial Board members share insights, experiences, and cutting-edge strategies to enhance health care safety and quality. Meet Fibi Attia, MD, MPH, CIC.

Andrea Thomas, PhD, DVM, MSc, BSc, director of epidemiology at BlueDot, discusses the resurgence of respiratory viruses, like COVID-19, influenza, pneumonia, and risks from avian influenza, and the importance of proactive infection control to safeguard health care systems this winter.

Outsourcing environmental hygiene in health care facilities offers cost benefits but often compromises quality. Effective oversight, training, and standards are essential for ensuring patient safety.

Rapid diagnostics enhance patient outcomes by enabling prompt, targeted treatments, reducing inappropriate antibiotic use, and combating antimicrobial resistance through informed clinical decisions and stewardship programs.

Andrea Thomas, PhD, DVM, MSc, BSc, director of epidemiology, and Mariana Torres Portillo, MD, infectious disease surveillance manager, both at BlueDot Global, speak to ICT about the latest on mpox.

Explore APIC Chapter Conferences for the remainder of 2024 and 2025. As your APIC Chapter announces its conference, send it to ICT to be posted here!

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), including ventilator-associated (VAP) and non-ventilator (NVHAP) forms, poses significant health risks, contributing to mortality, readmission, and high costs.

Recognize an inspiring infection prevention educator! Submit your nomination by 11:59 PM tomorrow, November 1, 2024, and honor their impactful contributions to the field.