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.
Support for the Urgent Need to Increase Immunization Coverage this Winter
On December 14th, CDC released a health advisory about the ongoing need to vaccinate against viral respiratory infections this winter. To help healthcare workers, the health advisory included supporting data and educational resources that we are featuring this month.
Ways to Share these Resources
- Update your patient communication script for the electronic medical record; it isn’t too late to vaccinate!
- These conversation-based education resources may be key for those who didn’t vaccinate early.
Target Audience: Essentials 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.
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)
Our Heart is for Patient Safety
This Valentine’s Day, LewisGale Hospital Pulaski’s theme was Our Heart is for Patient Safety. On 2/14, the entire facility celebrated 10 years without a central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI)! This success was the result of an enormous amount of teamwork. It involved physicians ordering and placing lines appropriately, nurses caring for the lines properly, and many ancillary departments doing their part.
The team thanked Environmental Services for keeping the hospital clean, Supply Chain staff for ensuring necessary products are in stock and Interventional Radiology for carefully and consistently placing peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) lines. A robust interdisciplinary team discusses every device including the plan for removal. A major contributor to this success is a culture where all staff feel empowered to speak up when there is a patient concern.
Leading up to the celebration of CLABSI prevention, the Infection Preventionists most enjoyed time spent gathering photographs of staff and talking about their contributions to this special event. This momentous occasion was celebrated with banners, balloons, t-shirts and cake for all!
-Becky McDonald, Infection Preventionist, LewisGale Hospital Pulaski
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.