In an unprecedented collaborative effort to revolutionize infection prevention, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) have recently announced the inception of the Healthcare Infection Prevention Advisory Group (HIPAG). HIPAG, a promising initiative, aims to address national priorities regarding infection prevention. Its conception…
The devastating effects of Hurricane Melissa, a formidable Category 5 assault to Jamaica on October 28, left substantial and widespread destruction in its wake. Adding a beacon of hope to the grim aftermath, a Spanish Emergency Medical Team (EMT) mobile hospital fully equipped, now stands beside the Falmouth Public General Hospital in Trelawny. This project,…
A recent qualitative study has scrutinized the communication dynamics existing between pharmacists and infection control staff under the Ministry of Health in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This research probe had the central aim of gaining a deeper understanding of how the interactions between these vital healthcare groups contribute to the functioning of healthcare processes within the…
Clean Hospitals Day: Championing Hygiene and Collaboration in Healthcare Facilities Across the Globe
In a bid to lift global standards of environmental hygiene and infection prevention, healthcare professionals around the world are gearing up for Clean Hospitals Day, scheduled for October 20, 2025. This event presents an opportunity for low-cost facilities worldwide to become part of the dialogue and action fueling improved healthcare practices. Participants are called upon…
This article captures the vital journey of Brenna Doran and Jessica Swain, two IPC (Infection Prevention and Control) leaders, as they unravel the intricacies of IP staffing in our contemporary healthcare landscape. This comprehensive series depicts the various stages involved in their research, beginning with the advent of an initial idea that transformed into a…
Optimizing Infection Prevention in Hospitals: The Urgent Need for Collaboration and Staffing Support
Despite the crucial role Infection Prevention (IP) departments play in hospitals, only 14% presently receive staffing backing from other hospital departments. This glaring deficiency brings attention to the urgent need for an integrated approach across healthcare services. It has emerged from a recent discourse that IP experts are deeply concerned about the critical implications of…
Entering my 25th year as a clinical infectious diseases pharmacist, I have grown to recognize the essential relationship between my career and the infection prevention department. I have been tasked with leading our antibiotic stewardship program (ASP), which significantly intersects with infection prevention efforts. To effectively tackle the expanding menace of antimicrobial resistance and health…
In the frontline of healthcare, infection prevention and emergency management forge an indispensable partnership to combat high-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs), underlining the significance of swift preparedness, safety, and proficient patient care. The conjugation of these two distinct yet crucial roles enhances the defense against threats such as HCIDs or special pathogens. Constructing a robust preparedness…
The focus in veterinary medicine is now shifting to infection prevention practices to cope with the burgeoning challenge of zoonotic diseases.
Andrea Thomas, DVM, PhD, MSc, BSc, from BlueDot Global, and her colleague Mariana Torres Portillo, MD, highlight the importance of this focus, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic which emphasized the need for…
Eradicating healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) is a crucial challenge facing hospitals globally. One effective strategy is utilizing UV-C surface disinfection, a technique that successfully diminishes pathogens in a patient environment leading to lower incidences of HAIs. However, the full potential of UV-C in combating HAIs remains underexploited due to challenges in effective implementation. The issue does…