Weekly Rounds with Infection Control Today: Beware Stealth Omicron, How Long is Long COVID?, How IPs Help Patients

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.

‘Stealth Omicron’ Starting to Get Noticed, Setting Off Some Alarms

Initial data suggest that it appears to be more infectious than even the highly infectious original Omicron variant.

Long COVID Symptoms Last for a Year for Some Patients

This frequency of symptoms 1 year after recovering from severe COVID-19 disease is concerning, as much is still unknown about “long COVID.”

Those Who Believe in Herd Immunity Cannot Do the Math

COVID-19 mutations are evading our immunity and at the same time our immunity is waning. Herd immunity to disease and the eradication of SARS-CoV-2 is no longer possible.

Despite Little Interaction With Patients, IPs Play Huge Role in Keeping Them Safe

The ability to be an excellent infection preventionist requires lifelong learning and taking the initiative to grow professionally.

Infection Preventionist Called on to Rescue Nursing Homes Hit by Omicron

Linda Spaulding, a member of ICT®’s Editorial Advisory Board, and a consultant, plans to fly out to Hawaii later this week to advise her LTCF clients in that state about how best to get through the current surge.