Brenna Doran, PhD, MA, ACC, CIC, AL-CIP, is a certified coach and CEO of Innovative Partnership Institute, LLC.

Long before “contact tracing” became a news headline, infection preventionists (IPs) were already doing the quiet, meticulous work of defining, tracking, and containing infectious disease exposures. We have all gotten the call, 4:00 PM on a Friday before the holiday, as we are wrapping up our day. Patient A has positive test results for tuberculosis (TB), measles, 

After we take a deep breath, we determine if that test result meets the criteria for exposure. What was the source of the lab specimen? Was the patient on our campus during the contagious window? Where did the patient go? Finally, the one that often defines what the next few days are like was that the patient was placed on the appropriate transmission-based precautions.

After we confirm an infectious disease exposure in our facility, we build the line list, notify, monitor, and wait out the incubation period. In writing this article, I had to think back to the biggest outbreak I was part of, contact tracing, and it was in the hundreds. A patient who managed to test PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) positive for TB in the sputum while being seen in multiple clinics over the course of the week. The rest of the story, you have likely lived yourself.

The core workflow currently required in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is identical to ours. Still, it is scaled to a population experiencing severe regional insecurity, armed conflict, and high mobility.

 Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) complicates it in a way that runs against intuition. There is no approved vaccine or treatment; it has a lower fatality rate than other Ebola strains. This less acute presentation may delay infected patients from seeking care, increasing the time they remain infectious in the community.

The reality of contact tracing for this outbreak presents an array of logistical challenges that offer no clear solution.

To see these challenges in action, look at the numbers: in the DRC, thousands of people have been identified as direct contacts and are being tracked each day. Since the outbreak was declared on May 15, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has identified more than 35,000 people as contacts of confirmed cases.

 Teams on the ground must maintain an up-to-date registry of these contacts, monitoring each daily for 21 days following their last known exposure to ensure the incubation period passes without symptoms.

Reaching Beyond EMRs: Finding Contacts in a Conflict Zone

Before a contact can be followed, they must first be found. In the US health care environment, we have contact information for our patients and staff. When an exposure occurs, and contacts need to be identified, we conduct tracing searches in our electronic medical records (EMRs) and reach out to our clinical teams for the names of staff and potential visitors. This process is tedious and time-consuming. Now imagine conducting contact tracing during an active outbreak in a conflict zone. The surrounding humanitarian setting is filled with highly mobile and frequently displaced populations. To make matters worse, many of these individuals lack reliable access to food, clean water, shelter, or basic medical care.

Safety concerns have escalated: security incidents at health facilities have constrained where response teams can operate, disrupted surveillance, and increased the likelihood that transmission continues out of sight.

 Mining draws workers in and out, and cross-border trade moves people across the region every day.

The region's geography compounds it. Confirmed cases have reached 36 health zones across Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.

 Only 21 of those 36 have reported a new case in the past 21 days. A single infected traveler can surface hundreds of miles from the outbreak's center, handing tracers a fresh set of names to find.

 One case can generate dozens of contacts, and every one of them restarts a 21-day clock.

In its initial phase, BVD mirrors many other common infections by presenting with fever, fatigue, and body aches. This makes it incredibly challenging to rule out other prevalent diseases, such as malaria, based on symptoms alone. Ultimately, a definitive diagnosis requires a laboratory test. The reality is, the index case is often confirmed late, after the contact web has already widened.

The Friction of Fear: Navigating Cultural Norms and Distrust

A contact list is only as valid as the names on it. It is only as complete as the index patient is willing to make it. In eastern DRC, the community has lived through years of conflict and deep distrust of outside authority. Effective contact tracing depends on a willingness to name household members, neighbors, and the people they cared for or buried. Knowing they will be subjected to weeks of monitoring, possibly asked to self-isolate.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been consistent in the messaging that the response must be led by local leaders rooted in the communities. Outbreaks like this are contained only when communities are genuinely engaged.

 Before engagement comes trust. Telling a community, as an outsider, how to address generations of cultural norms and beliefs is not the way to go.

 The public health emergency declaration itself named the task of identifying and addressing the cultural norms and beliefs that keep people from taking part.

 The friction is sharpest around the dead; a body is most infectious after death. Asking a family to hand over a relative for a safe, supervised burial fundamentally alters how they grieve.

 When messaged successfully, contacts are traced for the full 21 days. When it is not, contacts are lost. Invariably, some of the lost contacts become new BVD cases.

The response’s own community feedback highlights exactly where the friction sits. By late June, the loudest complaints centered on issues that most directly affect people. These included burials delayed past what custom allows, the manner in which suspected cases are taken from their homes, and the quality of care waiting at the treatment centers. Although outreach had reached more than 1.7 million people and local leaders had opened doors, the trust gaps remained wide. If symptoms do appear, the contact is asked to enter isolation away from their home and family. This is a terrifying prospect for a disease currently killing roughly 31% of confirmed patients in this outbreak.

Set that against how people are actually living. Isolating at home and reachable for 3 weeks is inherently at odds with the need to work, reach a market, or care for family. There is no vaccine for BVD. While candidate therapeutics and a post-exposure option are moving toward clinical trials, none is a resource that a tracer can offer.

 The true measure of this outbreak is the contact follow-up rate: the percentage of listed contacts a team successfully reaches each day.

Closing the Distance: Turning the Tide on the Map

). In late May, teams in Ituri were reaching 21% of the people on their lists, with insecurity and movement restrictions keeping the rest out of view.

 By July 1, that reach had climbed to 83% in Ituri.

 That is a hard number to move a mobile population living in a high-conflict zone, and it moved.

Proportion of Identified Contacts of Confirmed Bundibugyo Virus Disease Cases Reached Daily.

Democratic Republic of the Congo, June 8 to 28, 2026.

The shift from 21% to 83% represents the response finally catching up to the outbreak.

 Early follow-up efforts were severely crippled by weak surveillance, security threats, movement restrictions, and funding shortages that left too few teams on the ground.

 Through June, however, testing capacity scaled up and moved closer to the affected communities. The Africa CDC and WHO launched a unified continental response plan to secure new resources. At the same time, a health-zone risk analysis allowed teams to target areas where transmission was most active.

Ultimately, reach rose because more tracers were covering more of the map, backed by stronger community engagement.

 Yet, one sober number keeps that progress honest: tracking efficiency climbed even as confirmed cases in the DRC rose to 1,460.

Better tracing has successfully brought more of the epidemic into view, but it has not yet turned the curve.

Regional contrast sharpens the picture. In Uganda, tracing did exactly what it is supposed to do. Of the 831 contacts listed by late June, 821 successfully completed their 21-day monitoring by July 2. With no new cases appearing after June 21, the country recorded zero community transmission.

The response was equally efficient when France confirmed an imported case in a doctor returning from Ituri. He reported his own symptoms upon arrival and went straight into isolation. In response, 107 of his DRC contacts were immediately listed and monitored in Kinshasa, while French authorities traced the remaining exposures.

One Missed Link: The Fragile Science of Risk Mitigation

While significant traction is being made, there is additional work to do. WHO sets the target for daily contact follow-up at 90% to 95%.

 The containment of this outbreak rests on a short list: find cases fast, isolate and care for them, bury the dead safely, engage the community, and trace every contact.

 Without successful tracing, there is no way to get ahead of the infected. One missed link can surface a province or a continent away.

For IPs, the resonance is direct even where the setting is not. The follow-up rate in a WHO situation report is the same metric we use to report our success: the number of contacts we followed through the incubation period, divided by the total number identified. This tells us in real time whether we have contained and mitigated the risk. When it falls, a contact we missed is walking through our facility's doors, still in the incubation window. The next cluster is already being written.

1. Bangelesa F, Akilimali P, Hosner R, Buckee C, Shoemaker TR, Kaba D. Population mobility and Ebola case containment in Ituri, DR Congo. 

. Published online July 2, 2026. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(26)01253-5

2. Getachew S, Musambi E. Africa CDC chief says the continent needs to invest its own funds in Ebola response, vaccine. AP News. June 19, 2026. Accessed June 23, 2026. 

https://apnews.com/article/congo-ebola-africa-cdc-ituri-a5bfda53dbef567146cc1b39cce6f3f3

3. Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. World Health Organization. Disease Outbreak News. July 3, 2026. Accessed July 3, 2026. 

https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON612

4. Ebola disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. CDC. Health Alert Network Health Advisory. May 16, 2026. Accessed July 3, 2026. 

https://www.cdc.gov/han/php/notices/han00530.html

5. Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. World Health Organization. Disease Outbreak News. June 13, 2026. Accessed July 3, 2026. 

https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON607

6. Ongoing outbreak of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa. Accessed July 3, 2026. 

https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/ebola-disease/outbreak-drc-26

7. Epidemic of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda determined a public health emergency of international concern. World Health Organization. May 17, 2026. Accessed July 3, 2026. 

https://www.who.int/news/item/17-05-2026-epidemic-of-ebola-disease-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo-and-uganda-determined-a-public-health-emergency-of-international-concern

8. Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus, Democratic Republic of the Congo. World Health Organization. Disease Outbreak News. May 21, 2026. Accessed July 3, 2026. 

https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON603

9. Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, France. World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa. Weekly External Situation Report 07. Data as of June 28, 2026. Accessed July 4, 2026. 

https://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-republic-congo/ebola-bundibugyo-virus-disease-outbreak-democratic-republic-congo-uganda-weekly-external-situation-report-07-data-28-june-2026

Articles

What makes contact tracing effective during an Ebola outbreak? This article explains how IPs and public health teams use the same core principles, such as rapid case identification, exposure assessment, contact monitoring, and community engagement, to reduce disease transmission. Using the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the DRC as a case study, it highlights why trust, surveillance, and high contact follow-up rates remain essential to successful IPC efforts worldwide.

Why Contact Tracing Remains One of Infection Prevention's Most Powerful Tools: Lessons From the Ebola Outbreak in the DRC


Sherrie Busby's 30 years of extensive experience and education in the field make her a valuable resource for dental assistants seeking to enhance their skills and advance their careers. She works closely with dental assistants to provide them with comprehensive training on a wide range of topics, including clinical techniques and comprehensive infection control, dental software with AI, and documentation guidelines.

In May 2026, I had the honor of presenting an infection control class for just shy of 900 participants at the California Dental Association’s Art & Science Annual Meeting in Anaheim. I’m not going to lie, my biggest class ever. And the good news? I didn’t fall off the stage or throw up. So as far as this writer is concerned… huge success 😊 If you’ve ever had to “teach the experienced,” you know it can feel a little intimidating. But here’s the best part: I had a line of people waiting afterward and nearly 50 questions submitted through my Google form. That’s always my sign that it landed well—people felt comfortable, engaged, and curious enough to ask.

The Clean Bite Discusses the 3 Most Common Dental Infection Control Violations and How to Prevent Them

In May 2026, I had the honor of presenting an infection control class for just shy of 900 participants at the California Dental Association’s 

I’m not going to lie, my biggest class ever. And the good news? I didn’t fall off the stage or throw up. So as far as this writer is concerned… huge success 😊

If you’ve ever had to “teach the experienced,” you know it can feel a little intimidating. But here’s the best part: I had a line of people waiting afterward and nearly 50 questions submitted through my Google form. That’s always my sign that it landed well: People felt comfortable, engaged, and curious enough to ask.

During the conference, my friend and fellow infection control enthusiast, 

 RDH, MEd, CDIPC, CEO and founder of Dental Training Solutions, and I sat down to discuss the most common infection control breaches we’re seeing. (You can catch the full conversation in the video!)

personal protective equipment (PPE) usage

 rose right to the top, second only to hand hygiene.

Or not removing it properly (like wearing clinical barriers outside treatment areas)

And here’s the kicker: This isn’t isolated. It’s happening across the country in every type of dental setting.

In Maryland and DC, where Lori works as a dental board inspector, the top 3 violations are:

Failure to use utility gloves when handling sharps in the sterilization area

Lori made a statement that really stuck with me:

when we face occupational risk in our work setting.”

Quick reality check: We are at risk in dentistry. Every single day.

Even something as routine as treating a small cavity creates aerosols. That high-speed handpiece (aka…the “drill”) spins at incredible speeds, aerosolizing water and debris. Ultrasonic scalers do the same thing during hygiene visits.

So yes, we suit up differently than our medical colleagues. PPE is chosen based on the risks faced in the work setting or during the activity to be performed. It’s essentially PPE-on-repeat all day long:

Barriers (jackets or gowns) that cover the wrist, neck, and lap

Eye protection (safety glasses or face shields)

Here’s the truth: We’re pretty good about using gloves during patient care, but we struggle with:

Removing clinical barriers when leaving treatment areas

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and CDC guidelines are crystal clear: Hand hygiene must happen 

But what do we often do? Glove-to-glove transitions. No hand hygiene in between.

Yes, this is a big deal. Offices have been fined 

$10,000 to $15,000 for a single violation

. They are not playing around with this one.

Now let’s talk about dental barriers (jackets/gowns).

I’ll be honest; I used to wear mine everywhere:

And I still see it all the time. Not because people don’t care, but because we’re busy and it’s easy to forget, or we just don’t know.

Not using utility gloves when handling sharps and chemicals in the central sterilization area.

Here’s something that may surprise you:
About 

 happen during instrument processing—not chairside.

That’s exactly why OSHA mandates utility gloves.

But here’s the reality in most offices:

Shared by everyone (can you say gross here?)

Employer supplying dishwashing gloves instead of puncture and chemical resistant gloves.

And when gloves don’t fit?
They make instrument handling harder, not safer—especially when you’re dealing with burs, files, blades, cassette wraps, or pouch tape.

This means pairing a new habit with something you already do.

Perform hand hygiene while explaining the procedure to your patient

Sanitize while asking, “Do you have any questions before we begin?”

Here’s what I want you to walk away with:

Create a team pact to remind each other about clinical barriers (jackets and gowns)

Install hooks by operatory doors for easy removal and storage during the busy day

 of utility gloves, or better yet, assign personal pairs

I’ve included the link to our full conversation above (and here again!) so you can dive deeper into the discussion.

Because at the end of the day, staying on top of these fundamentals protects 

and allows you to continue delivering the world-class care you’re known for.

Videos

What are the most common infection control violations in dental practices? This article explains why hand hygiene, improper PPE use, and failure to wear utility gloves continue to challenge dental teams and offers practical, evidence-based strategies to improve OSHA adherence, strengthen infection prevention practices, and enhance patient and staff safety.

Tori Whitacre Martonicz, MA, is the lead editor of 

.  She has been a writer and editor for over 30 years and has an MA and BA in English Composition/Literature from the University of Akron in Akron, OH. She lives in Ohio with her husband, Eric; son, Drake; 2 tiny dogs, Selena Brigid Sophia and Doctor Danger Dog; and a big black cat, Freya. She loves reading, writing, gardening, and spending time with her loved ones. 

Contact her through her email: tmartonicz@mjhlifesciences.com.

(Adobe Stock 388194299 by Yurii Kibalnik)

Look across the infection prevention and control landscape today, and a single, urgent theme comes into focus: outbreak response. Whether the pathogen is a microscopic parasite spreading through 17 states, a bacterium lurking inside a reusable endoscope, a hemorrhagic fever virus infecting the very health care workers fighting it, or a contaminant hiding in a consumer shampoo bottle, the story is the same. Detection, containment, and communication are being tested simultaneously, and infection prevention and control (IPC) professionals are at the center of every one of these events.

“Infection Prevention experts hold the line against the spread of pathogens and infectious disease outbreaks,” Jenny Hayes, MSN, RN, CIC, CAIP, CASSPT, director of infection prevention for Jefferson Health—New Jersey in Stratford. told 

Isis Lamphier, MPH, MHA, CIC, AL-CIP, is the director of infection prevention for HCA Florida Brandon Hospital in Tampa. agrees, “Infection prevention isn’t a background discipline anymore, it is front page news. Infection prevention professionals are working diligently throughout the world in many different sectors in order to prevent or slow the spread of these infectious diseases. Our immunocompromised populations and individuals with comorbidities are the most susceptible. We are working diligently and strategically to protect the public from diseases such as Ebola and Cyclosporiasis.”

Cyclospora: A Parasite Hiding in Plain Sight

The CDC has issued an alert for health care workers following a 2026 cyclosporiasis outbreak that has now reached more than 1000 confirmed cases across 17 states, primarily in Michigan.

 is a waterborne parasite spread through contaminated food or water, and it is easy to miss. Symptoms, including watery diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, and cramping, mimic those of many other gastrointestinal illnesses, and standard ova and parasite testing does not always detect it unless specifically requested.¹

For IPC professionals, this outbreak is a reminder that foodborne and waterborne pathogens do not stay in the community. Immunocompromised patients, older adults, and anyone who consumed contaminated produce before or during a hospitalization may present with active infection. Awareness, appropriate diagnostic ordering, and prompt reporting to public health authorities are essential.

Written by Shazia Irum, MSc, MBA, RN, CIC, CPHQ, FAPIC, a CBIC Ambassador, for the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

Outbreaks may emerge from different pathogens, transmission routes, or health care settings. Still, they consistently reveal the same truth: the greatest determinant of patient safety is the strength of Infection Prevention and Control. Effective IPC is not defined by how we respond after an outbreak begins, but by how well we prepare before it occurs. 

Early surveillance, rapid risk assessment, timely implementation of evidence-based precautions, safe reprocessing of medical devices, environmental safety, and continuous education of health care workers form the pillars of resilient health care systems. 

Every outbreak, whether foodborne, waterborne, device-associated, environmental, or highly infectious, serves as a reminder that prevention is a shared responsibility requiring multidisciplinary collaboration, transparent communication, and unwavering leadership.

As health care continues to face emerging pathogens and evolving risks, IPC professionals remain at the forefront of protecting patients, safeguarding health care workers, and preserving public trust. Investing in strong infection prevention programs is not simply a regulatory expectation; it is a strategic commitment to health care quality, patient safety, and organizational resilience. 

In the face of ever-changing infectious threats, preparedness, vigilance, and a proactive culture of prevention will always be our most powerful and sustainable defense.

Duodenoscopes and VRE: A Persistent Device Safety Problem

A newly filed lawsuit alleges that a contaminated Olympus duodenoscope

(VRE) infection to a patient during an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), resulting in the patient's death.² The case renews a long-standing concern in the IPC community: Reusable, complex medical devices with elevator mechanisms and narrow lumens remain extraordinarily difficult to reprocess.

Despite FDA guidance, device redesigns, and enhanced reprocessing protocols issued in the years following high-profile carbapenem-resistant 

(CRE) outbreaks linked to duodenoscopes, the risk remains. Biofilm formation, incomplete drying, and gaps in manufacturer instructions for use continue to contribute to transmission events. This case underscores why IPC teams must remain actively engaged in device reprocessing oversight, not as a one-time review but as an ongoing program component that includes audits, competency validation, and open communication with sterile processing departments.

Ebola in DRC and Uganda: The Health Care Worker Toll

The Bundibugyo strain Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda has now infected over 100 health care workers (HCWs).

 This number highlights significant issues with the availability of personal protective equipment, training, and surveillance, as well as the fragility of health systems operating under crisis conditions.

While the risk to US health care facilities remains low, domestic IPC professionals should remain vigilant. The lessons are universal: When personal protective equipment (PPE) protocols are unclear, when staff are fatigued, when triage happens before transmission-based precautions are in place, health care workers become patients

"Keeping our frontline heroes safe involves not just sending PPE supplies but ensuring they receive robust training on how to don and doff correctly,” Brenna Doran, PhD, MA, ACC, CIC, AL-CIP, consultant/coach for Innovative Partners Institute, LLC (IP-i), said

She has written several articles on the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola for 

The Bundibugyo outbreak is also a reminder that the US Ebola response network, which was built after the 2014 crisis, requires sustained investment to remain functional. Preparedness cannot be funded reactively.

"Every outbreak, regardless of the organism, ultimately tests the same thing: the strength of our infection prevention systems,” said Shahbaz Salehi, MD, MPH, MSHIA, director of infection prevention and control and employee health for Foothill Regional Medical Center, in Tustin, California, and 

’s 2024 Educator of the Year. “Pathogens may differ, but preparedness, surveillance, communication, and rapid response remain the cornerstones of protecting the patients, health care workers, and the community.”

Legionnaires' Disease and the Environment as a Source

New York City health officials are investigating a Legionnaires' disease cluster after confirming 23 cases in the Carnegie Hill and Yorkville neighborhoods of Manhattan as of July 6, with no deaths reported.

 Officials believe a contaminated cooling tower is the likely source and are testing all cooling towers in the area while assuring residents that tap water and building plumbing systems remain safe.

Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by inhaling water droplets containing 

 bacteria, which commonly grow in warm water systems. Residents, workers, or recent visitors to the affected neighborhoods who develop flu-like symptoms are urged to seek medical care promptly.

Water management plans are required under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (

, yet adherence and the rigor of ongoing monitoring vary widely. Immunocompromised patients are at the highest risk for severe disease, and health care-associated infection (HAI) 

“Every outbreak is a reminder that protecting public health is a shared responsibility. Through awareness, prevention, and timely action, we can reduce the spread of infections and safeguard our communities,” said Vangie Dennis, MSN, RN, CNOR, CMLSO, FAORN, FAAN, MSN, RN, CNOR, CMLSO, FAORN, FAAN, CEO of and perioperative consultant for Perioperative Consultants, LLC, in Anderson, South Carolina.

Kao USA has voluntarily recalled select bottles of Oribe Serene Scalp Densifying Shampoo after testing detected contamination with 

. This bacterium can pose a serious risk to immunocompromised individuals. The recall affects specific 8.5- and 33.8-ounce bottles manufactured in February 2026 and distributed across the US and Canada. Consumers are advised to stop using the affected products and contact Kao for replacement information. The company is continuing its investigation into the source of the contamination while reviewing manufacturing practices to help prevent similar incidents.

As consumer product recalls increasingly involve bacterial contamination, IPC professionals may find themselves fielding questions from patients or colleagues about exposure risk. Staying informed about product recalls is becoming part of the expanded IPC role.

These 5 stories share a single throughline: The pathogen does not matter as much as the system's ability to detect it, respond to it, and protect the people in its path. Cyclosporiasis demands clinical awareness. VRE via a duodenoscope demands vigilance regarding device safety. Ebola demands HCW protection infrastructure. Legionnaires' demands environmental management. Consumer product contamination demands expanded situational awareness.

“As I see these outbreaks unfold, I’m reminded that no community is immune to infectious diseases. Staying informed, practicing prevention, and looking out for one another are our strongest defenses.” Dennis said. “Outbreaks don’t just test our health care systems; they test our commitment to protecting one another. Prevention begins with each of us.”

As Fibi Attia, MD, MPH, CIC, infection control coordinator for Penn State Health, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, said, “Infection preventionists are not specialists in one organism or one setting. They are the profession best positioned to see across all of these simultaneously — and right now, that view has never been more demanding.”

1. Cyclosporiasis outbreak investigation, 2026. CDC Health Alert Network. July 2026. Accessed July 8, 2026. 

https://www.cdc.gov/cyclosporiasis/php/surveillance/index.html

2. Whitacre Martonicz T. Can reusable duodenoscopes still transmit infections? New Olympus lawsuit alleges fatal VRE case. 

https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/can-reusable-duodenoscopes-still-transmit-infections-new-olympus-lawsuit-alleges-fatal-vre-case

3. Doran, B. When caregivers become patients: frontline vulnerability in the Bundibugyo outbreak response. 

https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/when-caregivers-become-patients-frontline-vulnerability-bundibugyo-outbreak-response

4. Kekatos, M. Nearly 2 dozen sickened in Legionnaires' disease cluster in New York City. ABC News. July 7, 2026. Accessed July 8, 2026. 

https ://abcnews.com/US/2-dozen-sickened-legionnaires-disease-cluster-new-york/story?id=134519647

5. Bartiromo, M. Shampoo recalled nationwide after bacterial contamination detected. ABC 27 WHTM News. July 6, 2026. Accessed July 8, 2026. 

https://abcnews.com/US/2-dozen-sickened-legionnaires-disease-cluster-new-york/story?id=134519647

Why do outbreaks involving Cyclospora, Ebola, Legionnaires' disease, contaminated medical devices, and recalled consumer products matter to infection preventionists? This editorial examines the common lessons from today's emerging infectious threats and explains how surveillance, environmental safety, health care worker protection, and preparedness strengthen infection prevention and control programs across all health care settings.

Why Outbreak Response Is the Biggest Infection Prevention Story Right Now: Lessons From Cyclospora, Ebola, Legionnaires', VRE, and Product Recalls

At APIC 2026, Ekaete Usoh, MPH, MSc, CIC, VA-BC, infection preventionist at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, shared how HAI prevention bundles should be applied through a health equity lens, while Risha Patel demonstrated how centralized weekly HAI tracking strengthens communication, accountability, and timely decision-making.

APIC 2026: Two Presentations Highlight Personalized Prevention and the Power of Data

At APIC 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee, 2 poster presentations demonstrated that effective infection prevention depends on more than following established protocols. It also requires adapting interventions to individual patient needs and using data to drive timely, collaborative decision-making.

Ekaete Usoh, MPH, MSc, CIC, VA-BC, an infection preventionist at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Sunset and member of the Greater Los Angeles APIC Chapter and the APIC Health Equity Committee, presented research exploring health care-associated infection (HAI) prevention bundles through a health equity lens. She presented with other members of the APIC Health Equity Committee, including Krystal Robinson, MPH, CIC, CHIPP(B); Caitlin Sharkey, MPH; Nicole Henry, DrPH, MPH, CIC; and Chrystia Johnson, MSHS, MT(AMT), CIC. The title was 

From Awareness to Action: A Dialogue About Health Equity in Practice

. Her presentation challenged attendees to think beyond simply completing bundle elements and instead consider whether those interventions are equally effective for every patient.

"Our patients differ," Usoh said. "Every patient should have the same effect of the bundle."

Ekaete Usoh, MPH, MSc, CIC, VA-BC; Risha Patel, MPH, CIC; and Tori Whitacre, MA, at APIC26 in Nashville, Tennessee. 

The project does not advocate changing evidence-based bundles. Instead, it encourages infection preventionists and frontline clinicians to consider whether standard interventions are being applied in ways that meet individual patient needs.

Usoh shared the example of a patient with dementia who repeatedly pulled at a central line. Although staff documented daily rounds and line necessity assessments according to protocol, the patient's unique condition required additional attention beyond the standard once-per-shift evaluation.

"The bundle elements have been shown evidence-based. They do work, they do prevent HAIs," she said. "But are they equally effective for every patient?"

By encouraging clinicians to evaluate bundle adherence through the lens of health equity, the project aims to ensure every patient receives the same level of protection, even if achieving that outcome requires individualized approaches.

Also presenting at APIC 2026 was Risha Patel, MPH, CIC, senior data analyst at Keck Medicine of USC. Patel's poster, 

Keep an Eye on the Goal: Weekly Logs as Your HAI Compass

 was coauthored with Kymberly Lengyel, BSN, RN, PHN, CIC, AL-CIP, the associate administrator for hospital epidemiology and infection prevention at Keck Medicine of USC.

Patel described how her organization uses a centralized weekly HAI tracking log to monitor infection events across the health system. Updated daily by infection preventionists and reviewed during weekly huddles, the shared dashboard serves as a single source of truth, supporting communication among multidisciplinary stakeholders.

"The key takeaway is that consistent weekly reflection on detailed HAI data enables rapid pattern recognition and process gap tracking," Patel said.

The spreadsheet aggregates information into weekly, monthly, annual, fiscal-year, and calendar-year views while maintaining more than a decade of historical data. Interactive graphs and standardized reporting allow teams to identify trends quickly, evaluate interventions, and communicate findings efficiently.

"Centralized data also builds transparency, trust, accountability, and alignment among multidisciplinary stakeholders for timely collaboration and proactive HAI reduction efforts," Patel explained.

Beyond sharing their research, both presenters emphasized the professional value of attending the APIC annual conference.

Usoh described APIC as an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues who understand the unique challenges of infection prevention.

"I think it's beautiful, and I think everyone should want to be part of it because it reinvigorates you," she said. "It just makes you feel like you know what you're doing, you're not alone, and there are other people who share the same struggles and the same joys with you."

Patel echoed those sentiments, encouraging infection preventionists at every stage of their careers to experience the conference.

"It is a great opportunity to collaborate and connect," Patel said. "The speakers are always phenomenal. They really embody that reinvigoration and awakening. If you have an opportunity to attend APIC, please grab it with both hands."

Usoh added one final piece of advice with a smile: "Don't forget this, there's after parties that happen, and those ones are great too."

Together, the 2 presentations highlighted complementary approaches to improving infection prevention. One focused on ensuring evidence-based practices are applied equitably for every patient, while the other demonstrated how structured, transparent data sharing can strengthen collaboration and accelerate HAI reduction efforts. Both underscored another message that resonated throughout APIC 2026: the conference is not only a place to learn, but also an opportunity to reconnect with the larger infection prevention community and return home inspired to improve patient care.

APIC 2026 presenters Ekaete Usoh, MPH, MSc, CIC, VA-BC, and Risha Patel, MPH, CIC, shared practical strategies for reducing health care-associated infections through health equity, standardized data tracking, and interdisciplinary collaboration while encouraging infection preventionists to take advantage of APIC's educational and networking opportunities.

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