ICTalk: Infection Control Today Podcast
ICTalk is a podcast dedicated to infection prevention and control, offering expert insights and practical strategies for healthcare professionals. It covers topics relevant to infection preventionists, sterile processing staff, environmental hygiene teams, and hospital executives. Each episode features conversations with leading experts and thought leaders in the field. The show aims to help listeners create safer healthcare environments and stay current with evolving infection control challenges.
Episodes
30: 3. When Disinfection Falls Short: Examining Dilution, Technique, and Accountability
A disinfectant dispenser that delivers the wrong concentration, shared equipment without clear cleaning responsibility, or restricted areas inaccessible to environmental services can expose gaps in environmental hygiene programs. In this interview with Infection Control Today® (ICT®), Doe Kley, MPH, RN, T-CHEST, LTC-CIP, CIC, discusses disinfectant efficacy, practical cleaning challenges, and sha
29: The IFU Problem: Is Sterile Processing Information Becoming Unmanageable?
Sterile Processing's Hidden Patient Safety Risk: When Cognitive Overload Meets Complex WorkSterile processing professionals perform high-stakes work requiring sustained attention to detail, yet burnout, fatigue, interruptions, and cognitive overload receive far less attention in SPD than in many patient-facing areas of health care.Randalyn Harreld, CRCST, CIS, CER, CHL, CSPDT, CASSPT, CLS, AAS, F
28: What Does the Cyclospora Outbreak Reveal About Public Health Surveillance? An Expert Discusses With ICT
What happens when we expect public health to respond immediately after years of inconsistent investment?For Brian C. Castrucci, DrPH, president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, the current Cyclospora outbreak illustrates a much larger problem."It's about speed. It's about capacity," Castrucci told Infection Control Today®. "You can't underinvest in public health and then expect it to have a
27: Lead Aprons May Represent an Overlooked Infection Prevention Blind Spot
Reusable lead aprons have long been viewed as essential radiation protection for clinicians, but infection prevention experts say they may also represent an overlooked environmental hygiene challenge.During a recent Infection Control Today and Diagnostic Imaging roundtable, experts from infection prevention, perioperative services, and radiology discussed why lead garments often escape the scruti
26: AIDS 2026 Research Shows Individualized HIV Treatment Is Shaping the Future
New research presented at AIDS 2026 demonstrates that HIV treatment continues to evolve, with growing evidence supporting both simplified 2-drug regimens and long-acting injectable therapies designed to improve adherence and quality of life.Jean van Wyk, MD, chief medical officer at ViiV Healthcare, discussed with Infection Control Today®, said the expanding treatment landscape gives people livin
25: Contagious Conversations: One Profession, Many Pathways Into Infection Prevention
Infection prevention and control (IPC) has long been recognized as a multidisciplinary field, yet the pathways into the profession vary dramatically across the globe. In the latest installment of Contagious Conversations, hosts Heather Stoltzfus, MPH, RN, CIC, and Brenna Doran, PhD, MA, ACC, CIC, AL-CIP, brought together 2 international infection prevention leaders to discuss how their countries
24: Dental PPE and Hand Hygiene: Avoiding the Most Common Infection Control Breaches
Welcome Back to The Clean Bite!In May 2026, I had the honor of presenting an infection control class for just shy of 900 participants at the California Dental Association’s Art & Science Annual Meeting in Anaheim.I’m not going to lie, my biggest class ever. And the good news? I didn’t fall off the stage or throw up. So as far as this writer is concerned… huge success 😊If you’ve ever had to “t
23: Hantavirus: A Podcast with Matthew Pullen, MD, an Infectious Disease Doctor
A rare hantavirus outbreak linked to an expedition cruise ship near South America has drawn international attention and renewed concerns about emerging infectious diseases. While experts emphasize that the risk of a widespread outbreak remains extremely low, the appearance of Andes virus-associated hantavirus pulmonary syndrome on a cruise ship has raised questions about global preparedness, trav
22: Contagious Conversations: How SPD Voices Are Shaping Patient Safety
At the SoCal Sterile Processing Association (SPA) Chapter meeting on March 21, 2026, in Newport Beach, California, one message came through clearly: Leadership in sterile processing does not begin with a title. It begins with a voice.In this special edition of Contagious Conversations, hosts Jill Holdsworth, MS, CIC, FAPIC, NREMT, CRCST, CHL, AL-CIP; and Brenna Doran, PhD, MA, ACC, CIC, AL-CIP, t
21: What Is Surgical Smoke, and Why Is it So Dangerous? An Expert Explains
Surgical smoke has been part of operating room culture for decades, generated routinely by lasers, electrosurgical devices, and ultrasonic tools. Yet despite its constant presence, it remains one of the least understood and least consistently addressed risks in perioperative care.In a recent interview with Infection Control Today® (ICT®), Vangie Dennis, MSN, RN, CNOR, CMLSO, FAORN, FAAN, a former
20: The Invisible Heroes: Why Dental Assistant Recognition Week Matters
Every time you sit in a dental chair, you witness a carefully choreographed performance. The dentist guides the instrument. The hygienist checks your bite. Behind the scenes stands the dental assistant, orchestrating the invisible work that keeps you safe."Dental assistants do more than just assist the doctor," says Sherrie Busby, EDDA, CDSO, CDIPC, dental assistant speaker and trainer, with 42 y
19: Contagious Conversations: The Bold New Series Tackling the Toughest Topics in Infection Prevention
Contagious Conversations is a new video series by Infection Control Today® (ICT®) created to make space for the conversations infection preventionists (IPs) often avoid, not because they are unimportant, but because they are personal, complicated, and sometimes uncomfortable. In the premiere episode, the hosts, Isis Lamphier, MPH, MHA, CIC, AL-CIP; Heather Stoltzfus, MPH, RN, CIC; Brenna Doran, P
18: HSPA President Arlene Bush on Throughput, Standards, and Why Sterile Processing Must Celebrate Wins in 2026
Sterile processing is often discussed only when something goes wrong. A tray defect. A missing instrument. A delayed case. But in this wide-ranging conversation with Infection Control Today®(ICT®), Arlene Bush, CRCST, CER, CIS, CHL, SME, DSMD, CRMST, the current president of Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA), makes a different case for 2026. If the field wants retention, resilience
17: Breaking the Silence: How to Talk About HIV and PrEP Without Fear
Few issues embody the intersection of prevention, compassion, and communication more than HIV and PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis)—subjects that remain clouded by stigma, even decades after the epidemic’s darkest days. I recently spoke with Cariane Morales Matos, MD, medical director at Hope & Help of Central Florida, about how health care providers, parents, and infection preventionists can ap
16: Veteran Infection Preventionists Chat: What Are The Soft Skills That Make Strong IPs?
When most people think of infection prevention, they picture data dashboards, surveillance reports, and regulatory checklists. But ask any experienced infection preventionist (IP) what really determines success, and you’ll hear something different—it is the people skills.During a recent Infection Control Today® roundtable, veteran infection prevention professionals representing diverse roles and b
15: Bug of the Month: I'm Older Than Empires
Bug of the Month helps educate readers about existing and emerging pathogens of clinical importance in health care facilities today. Each column explores the Bug of the Month's etiology, the infections it can cause, the modes of transmission, and ways to fight its spread. The pathogen profiles will span bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic species. We encourage you to use Bug of the Month as a
14: NDM-CRE Surge Demands Stronger Infection Prevention and Testing Strategies, Study's Author Says
In the second part of our conversation with Danielle Rankin, PhD, MPH, CIC, epidemiologist with the CDC, she expanded on the infection prevention strategies and surveillance needs surrounding the rise of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (NDM-CRE). She is the lead author of a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.Rankin emphasized that early in
13: At IDWeek, Dr Tom Frieden Urges a Simple Formula to Tackle Outbreaks and Drug Resistance: “See. Believe. Create.”
Amid the bustle of IDWeek in Atlanta, Georgia, held from October 19 to 22, 2025, former CDC director Tom Frieden, MD, MPH, now president and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, laid out a crisp playbook for infectious-disease professionals: a 3-step formula he says can prevent outbreaks, reverse drug resistance, and save “millions of lives.”In a conversation with Infection Control Today, before the conf
12: Clean Hospitals Day 2025: A Discussion With Alexandra Peters, PhD, the New CEO
Join the Movement: Clean Hospitals Day is October 20, 2025On October 20, hospitals around the world will pause to spotlight a truth we all know but rarely celebrate out loud: Environmental hygiene saves lives. Clean Hospitals Day 2025 is your chance to rally teams, thank the environmental services (EVS) professionals who keep care spaces safe, and set new habits that last long after the balloons
11: Rising Threat of NDM-CRE: CDC Epidemiologist Highlights Urgent Infection Prevention Priorities
Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) carrying New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) are on the rise across the US, posing a growing challenge for hospitals, infection preventionists, and public health officials. In a recent interview, Danielle Rankin, PhD, MPH, CIC, an epidemiologist with the CDC, discussed her recently published study, which underscored the scale of the problem and the need
10: Evidence, Trust, and Prevention: David J. Weber, MD, MPH, on CDC Leadership and Public Health
The sudden departure of the CDC director with several other top leaders has raised urgent questions about the stability of the nation’s leading public health agency and its ability to provide consistent, evidence-based guidance. In an interview with Infection Control Today®(ICT®), David J. Weber, MD, MPH, president of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, and the medical director of
9: Sharps Safety Starts with Us: Why Infection Preventionists Must Lead the Charge
Infection prevention personnel are uniquely positioned to drive meaningful change in sharps safety, but only if we recognize and act on our critical role. Sharps injuries are not only a personal threat to health care workers; they also represent a preventable infection risk, a systems failure, and a missed opportunity for proactive intervention. In the interview, available in its entirety here, wi
8: All About APIC’s New Guide Tackles All Catheter-Associated Bloodstream Infections
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology’s (APIC’s) latest guide marks an important evolution in infection prevention by expanding beyond the traditional focus on central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSIs) to address all catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CABSIs). In this conversation with DJ Shannon, MPH, CIC, VA-BC, FAPIC, infection prevention man
7: Keeping Classrooms Cleaner: Infection Preventionists Step into Schools
As seasonal viruses surge and recent outbreaks like measles highlight vulnerabilities, infection prevention experts are extending their reach into schools, recognizing that healthy classrooms are essential to healthy communities.
6: Clean Bite: Think Twice Before Closing Your Lips Around That Little Suction Thing
Do you know not to wrap your lips around the suction tube the dentist puts in your mouth? You will when you finish this podcast.
5: The Rising Threat of Fungal Infections and the Urgent Need for New Treatments
Infectious diseases have long been a major concern for global health. While much attention is given to bacterial and viral infections, fungal diseases remain an underappreciated and growing threat. With limited treatment options and rising resistance to existing antifungal drugs, the world is facing a silent crisis that could have devastating consequences. David Angulo, MD, an infectious disease s
4: From Shortages to Security: How Reusable Health Care Textiles Can Transform Infection Prevention
The Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA) plays a vital role in supporting the health care industry and critical infrastructure by providing hygienically clean health care contact textiles (HCTs) and personal protective equipment (PPE). Representing a $50 billion industry with over 200,000 employees across 2,500 facilities, TRSA ensures that essential supplies, including isolation gowns, scru
3: The Future of Reusable PPE in Healthcare: A Sustainable and Cost-Effective Solution
The conversation around reusable personal protective equipment (PPE) is gaining traction, especially in the wake of the pandemic-induced shortages. Infection Control Today’s interview with Joe Ricci, CEO of Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA), and Diane Troxel, MSN, RN, the director of clinical education at Handcraft Linen Services, shed light on the benefits and challenges of shifting towa
2: Beyond Hand Hygiene: The Five Critical Moments for Environmental Disinfection in Health Care
Infection prevention has long focused on hand hygiene, but what about the surfaces patients and healthcare workers touch throughout the day? Jim Gauthier, MLT, CIC, alongside coauthors Carol Calabrese, RN, BS, CIC, and Peter Teska, MBA, introduced the concept of Targeted Moments of Environmental Disinfection (TMED)—a structured approach identifying 5 critical moments for cleaning high-touch surfac
1: Deborah Birx, MD, Unveils Urgent Insights on Avian Flu: What Infection Preventionists Must Know
In an exclusive interview with Infection Control Today, Dr. Deborah Birx, MD, shared crucial updates on the ongoing threat of avian influenza (H5N1) and its implications for public health. With the H5N1 strain spreading globally and showing concerning cross-species transmission, Dr. Birx stressed the importance of strong infection prevention strategies, including improved surveillance, strict bios
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