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.
The Infection Prevention Educator Roadshow Is Back This Summer
The Infection Prevention Educator Roadshow is hosted by the VDH HAI & AR Program and will be coming to a location near you in summer 2024.
More About This Resource
- This free training is focused on building your skills to educate healthcare workers on infection prevention and will be a hands-on learning day.
- Participants may come from all practice settings. Last year, participants came from acute care, long-term care, EMS, health department, behavioral health, congregate settings, public health, and more. All are welcome.
- This will be an all-new training; previous attendance not required. If you came to Roadshow 2023, there will be all new lessons this year, so please join us again!
- Register online – seats are filling up!
For questions about this training resource, contact ginger.vanhoozer@vdh.virginia.gov
Target Audience: Foundational, Intermediate, and Advanced IPC levels
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.
Health Update: Prevention Strategies for Mpox, including Vaccinating People at Risk via Sexual Exposure, for U.S. Travelers Visiting Countries with Clade I Mpox Outbreaks (9/23/2024)
Core Elements of Hospital Diagnostic Excellence Programs (9/11/2024)
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services National Healthcare Safety Network’s (NHSN) Antibiotic Use and Resistance (AUR) Reporting Modules
Use of COVID-19 Vaccines in the United States (9/6/2024)
Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) August Public Meeting Recap (9/3/2024)
What’s In Your Water?
Hayley Andrews, an infection preventionist in the southwest region of Virginia, used her curious mind and a desire to educate others to help uncover environmental contamination that caused an illness in one of her patients.
Hayley’s facility admitted a patient with sepsis, and blood cultures grew Aeromonas hydrophila. Because Hayley had never heard of this organism, she researched it and learned that it is typically a waterborne organism. Hayley took this information to the nursing unit where the patient was located and the patient’s son heard her educating the nurses about Aeromonas. He joined in and mentioned that his mom had a well and he was concerned that it may be contaminated.
The health department visited the home and tested the water. Sure enough, it was contaminated with Aeromonas and other organisms, and failed potability testing. The health department was able to get the patient an alternate, safe water source upon her discharge to prevent further infection until her well water could be remediated.
Thank you, Hayley! Your diligence prevented this patient from getting sick again, and perhaps prevented other neighbors from a similar outcome!
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.