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.
May 5th is World Hand Hygiene Day
Mark your calendars because May 5th is no ordinary day—it’s World Hand Hygiene Day! It’s time to roll up our sleeves and celebrate the power of clean hands in keeping us all healthy. We know it’s not always easy to find the right tools to keep those hands squeaky clean. Fear not, because we’ve got your back with an exciting bundle of resources that’ll make hand hygiene a breeze!
🛠️ Toolkit: APIC Toolkit for Patient Hand Hygiene
- About this resource: This toolkit is an all-encompassing resource designed to empower healthcare professionals like you to champion hand hygiene practices among patients and residents.
- Target Audience: Foundational IPC education
📽️ Video: Virginia Infection Prevention Training Center – Hand Hygiene with Florence Nightingale
- About this resource: Get ready to be entertained and educated when Florence Nightingale comes to life to tell a memorable and short story on how to perform hand hygiene and why it matters in healthcare.
- Target Audience: Foundational IPC education level
💻 Technology: Speedy Audit
- About this resource: Speedy Audit is a free resource to track and compile your hand hygiene audits. A 2023 study showed that using Speedy Audit reduced the amount of time to complete hand hygiene analysis when compared to a paper audit tool (Libero, G., Bordino, V., Garlasco, J., Vicentini, C., & Maria Zotti, C. (2023)).
- Target Audience: Foundational to Intermediate IPC education level
So, gear up, spread the word, and let’s make this World Hand Hygiene Day the cleanest one yet!
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.
H5N1 Bird Flu: Current Situation Summary (5/24/2024)
Updates on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (5/20/2024)
Health Advisory: Meningococcal Disease Cases Linked to Travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA): Ensure Pilgrims are Current on Meningococcal Vaccination (5/20/2024)
Rapid Evidence Product: Active Infection Surveillance of Clostridioides difficile ( diff) and Multidrug-Resistant Organisms: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), and Candida auris (5/9/2024)
VDH: Reporting Adverse Events in Children Following Exposure to THC and CBD Containing Products (4/24/2024)
Dental Infection Prevention Star
Join us in celebrating a cutting-edge infection prevention and control leader in dental settings. Tatjana Snyder is an infection prevention specialist at Virginia Family Dentistry, leading dental infection prevention efforts at 16 locations. She holds the Certification in Dental Infection Prevention and Control (one of the first in Virginia to accomplish this!) and oversees infection prevention staff education and implementation of infection control strategies.
Tatjana ensures hygienic environments, conducts water quality assessments, and upholds dental safety protocols. Her commitment to patient care and safety is evident in her meticulous oversight of instrument sterilization and use of checklists to inspect what she expects. As a member of the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP), she advances dental safety practices and ensures adherence to high standards at all Virginia Family Dentistry locations.
Thank you Tatjana for being a champion for infection prevention in dental settings and working hard to keep patients safe!
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.