Virginia Infection Prevention & Control Training Alliance (VIPTA)

VIPTA is a statewide infection prevention and control education collaborative, led by the Virginia Healthcare-Associated Infections Advisory Group.  Through partnership, VIPTA curates IPC resources for Virginia’s healthcare, congregate care, and public health settings.

More about VIPTA

 

Upcoming Events

View Calendar
Cleaning and Disinfection

Cleaning with Purpose: EVS and the Fight Against HAIs

Infection prevention isn’t ONLY about hand hygiene and PPE—it starts with the very environment we work in. Environmental Services (EVS) professionals are on the front lines of infection prevention, playing a critical role in stopping multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) and keeping patients, staff, and visitors safe.

What to Expect
These resources highlight the essential role of EVS teams in infection prevention, from stopping the spread of MDROs to creating a safe environment for patients, residents and staff.

How to Use These Resources

  • Incorporate them into EVS team huddles and training sessions.
  • Use videos as onboarding tools for new EVS staff.
  • Empower EVS teams by reinforcing their critical role in healthcare safety.

Target Audience: Essential IPC Education Level

Guidance & Regulation Updates

VIPTA members track guidance and regulation resources to share source documents that guide infection prevention and control practices for public health staff and clinical and non-clinical healthcare personnel.

The date of the regulation or guidance update is included in each post.  Please check linked content to be sure it is the most up to date and recommended practice.

VDH Clinician Letter: Raising Awareness About an Ebola Disease Outbreak Caused by Sudan Virus in Uganda (2/11/2025)
VDH
Acute Care Hospital
Department of Health
Outbreak Investigation
Surveillance
Shares CDC recommendations for clinicians (see Ebola Health Advisory for more details) Reminds clinicians to immediately contact the local health department to report any patient with compatible signs and symptoms of Sudan virus disease and an epidemiologic risk factor.
CDC Health Advisory: Ebola Outbreak Caused by Sudan virus in Uganda (2/6/2025)
CDC
Acute Care Hospital
Department of Health
Outbreak Investigation
Surveillance
Review CDC's recommendations for U.S. public health departments and clinicians about case identification, testing, and biosafety considerations in clinical laboratories. As a precaution and because there are other viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks in East Africa, CDC is sharing best practices to raise awareness about this outbreak.
VDH Clinician Letter: Avian Influenza Update for Virginia (1/31/2025)
VDH
Acute Care Hospital
Ambulatory (Outpatient) Care
Department of Health
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Outbreak Investigation
Surveillance
Avian influenza A(H5) has not been detected in people or dairy cattle in Virginia. It has recently been detected in Virginia in wild birds, commercial poultry, and in birds housed in a zoo collection. These detections are not unexpected, as avian influenza A(H5) virus is currently widely circulating in the environment. The risk from avian influenza viruses to the public remains low. People with job-related or recreational exposure to birds or other avian influenza virus-infected animals are at greater risk of infection. Clinicians should consider the possibility of avian influenza virus infection in persons showing signs or symptoms of acute...
Health Advisory: Accelerated Subtyping of Influenza A in Hospitalized Patients (1/16/25)
CDC
Acute Care Hospital
Emergency Preparedness & Operations
Laboratory Collection and Interpretation
Surveillance
To prevent delays in identifying human infections with avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses, especially during periods of high seasonal influenza activity, the CDC recommends a shortened timeline for subtyping all influenza A specimens from hospitalized patients. This measure will support optimal patient care, infection control, and case investigation. Clinicians and laboratory staff are urged to test for influenza in patients with suspected influenza and to prioritize the rapid subtyping of influenza A-positive specimens, particularly those from patients in intensive care units. Additionally, clinical laboratories should increase efforts to identify non-seasonal influenza strains.
Termination of Rulemaking: Occupational Exposure to COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings (1/15/25)
OSHA
Any Practice Setting
Regulatory Compliance
The COVID-19 Healthcare rulemaking, which was first published as an Emergency Temporary Standard on June 21, 2021, has been terminated. The agency will continue to focus efforts to protect healthcare workers through work on a broader Infectious Diseases standard.
Sue Moeslein

Celebrating Sue Moeslein’s Dedication to Mentorship

Susan (Sue) Moeslein is not just a leader in infection prevention, she’s a mentor shaping the next generation of professionals. With over 40 years in healthcare and 17 years as an infection preventionist (IP), Sue has been a steadfast advocate for patient safety and quality of care. With a diverse background spanning various healthcare settings and roles including infection prevention and care management, Sue has brought her wealth of experience to Health Quality Innovators (HQI).

Sue is passionate about mentoring the next generation of IPs. As co-chair of the APIC-Virginia/VDH IP Mentorship Program, she has been instrumental in the program’s success. Recognizing the challenges faced by early-career IPs, Sue played a key role in developing this structured, low-burden mentorship program. By pairing experienced IPs with newcomers, the program fosters professional growth, enhances knowledge sharing, and standardizes best practices across the field. Sue’s dedication helped create a scalable model that supports both mentors and mentees while reducing the workload on seasoned professionals.

Thanks to her efforts, the mentorship program has seen high engagement, strong retention rates, and overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants. With structured learning modules, interactive discussions, and continuing education credits, mentees gain the skills and confidence needed to excel in infection prevention.

Sue’s passion for mentorship embodies the spirit of collaboration and leadership. Her work ensures that infection prevention professionals across Virginia are supported, empowered, and prepared for success.

Fun Facts About Sue

  • Celebrating her 43rd wedding anniversary this year
  • Has 3 grandchildren
  • Registered nurse for 42 years
  • In her spare time, she loves to quilt (and is very good at it)

IPC Education & Training Library

Search the VIPTA library of curated infection prevention and control (IPC) education and training resources. The IPC Education & Training Resource Library includes state and national resources related to healthcare-associated infections, antimicrobial resistance and/or IPC. Visit the VIPTA FAQ page to learn more about VIPTA library content.

 

Connect With VIPTA

Last Updated: February 14, 2024