COVID-19

July 08, 2026

Many infection preventionists from nonclinical backgrounds experience imposter syndrome despite demonstrating strong technical expertise and measurable patient safety outcomes. This commentary explores how mentorship, leadership development, and organizational support can strengthen professional identity, improve retention, and help the infection prevention profession embrace diverse educational pathways.

July 06, 2026

More than 100 health care workers have been infected during the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. While the risk to US health care facilities remains low, the outbreak provides powerful lessons about PPE readiness, surveillance, staffing, and community trust. This commentary explores why infection preventionists should pay close attention, not because Ebola is coming here, but because the challenges are universal.

June 29, 2026

Emerging breath analysis technologies could provide faster, less invasive detection of bacterial infections and help clinicians monitor antibiotic response, though significant research and regulatory hurdles remain before widespread clinical adoption.

June 15, 2026

A photo-based education activity helped frontline staff recognize infection prevention concerns, discuss common barriers, and strengthen survey readiness in long-term care.

May 26, 2026

The MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak exposed a critical surveillance gap: by the time official alerts were issued, exposed passengers had already dispersed across multiple countries. This article explores how infection preventionists can use emerging open-source dashboards, real-time data aggregation tools, and internal informatics systems to bridge the dangerous lag between exposure events and actionable public health intelligence. From cruise ship outbreaks to facility-level exposures, the piece examines how digital surveillance may help IPs shift from reactive outbreak reconstruction to faster, proactive containment strategies.

May 21, 2026

Test your infection prevention and control knowledge with this IPC-themed crossword puzzle featuring terms and concepts related to hand hygiene, sterilization, PPE, outbreak prevention, and health care-associated infections. Designed for health care professionals, the puzzle offers an engaging way to reinforce key IPC principles while promoting education and awareness.

May 13, 2026

Matthew Pullen, MD, discusses lessons from COVID-19, health care worker safety, public health fatigue, outbreak preparedness, and why local planning remains essential for future infectious disease threats.

May 13, 2026

Matthew Pullen, MD, discusses why hantavirus remains a serious but geographically limited threat, explaining how low transmissibility and high mortality reduce the likelihood of a future pandemic.

May 13, 2026

Matthew Pullen, MD, explains the differences between Sin Nombre and Andes viruses, their transmission routes, and why hantavirus pulmonary syndrome remains a serious public health concern.

May 13, 2026

A rare hantavirus outbreak linked to a South American cruise ship is drawing global attention, but experts say fears of a COVID-19-style pandemic are largely unsupported. Infectious disease physician Matthew Pullen, MD, discusses Andes virus transmission, misinformation, cruise ship risks, and what health care professionals should really be watching for.