07May 2026 by Chelsea Song
Handwashing Saves Lives

Handwashing Saves Lives

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Hand Washing Saves Lives What if you could actually see the trail your hands leave behind—every germ transferred to a patient, a surface, or equipment? Most of us would change our habits instantly. The challenge is that pathogens have a kind of villain‑level superpower: they’re completely invisible. A single gram of an organism can contain one trillion microscopic germs, quietly waiting for a chance to spread. That’s why hand hygiene is one of the most powerful tools we have. Eighty percent of infections are caused by contaminated hands, and according to the WHO, strong infection‑prevention practices—including proper hand hygiene—can reduce hospital‑acquired infections and antimicrobial resistance by 35–70%. And the best part? It only takes 20 seconds to perform effective hand hygiene. Twenty seconds to stop transmission. Twenty seconds to protect…
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13Apr 2026 by Chelsea Song
Spring Is Here—Along with Allergy Season

Spring Is Here—Along with Allergy Season

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Spring is upon us! Flowers and trees are starting to bloom, and beautiful weather is returning. Unfortunately, with blooming plants comes pollen and for many people, seasonal allergies. Common allergy symptoms include a runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, or a cough. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), at least 106 million people in the United States have allergies or asthma, and this number is likely even higher. The AAFA offers several recommendations to help decrease pollen exposure, such as checking the daily pollen count before going outside and using allergy medications as appropriate. While these strategies can help manage symptoms, it can sometimes be difficult to know when allergies have progressed into something more complicated, such as acute rhinosinusitis (ARS), and when antibiotic treatment may be…
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03Apr 2026 by Chelsea Song
EMS and Fire Infection Prevention Training

EMS and Fire Infection Prevention Training

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EMS & Fire Infection Prevention Training Kentucky Infection Prevention (KyIP) Training Center is expanding its mission to support those who protect our communities first—EMS and fire professionals. Our new EMS/Fire Infection Prevention Training Program delivers practical, field‑ready education designed to strengthen safety, reduce risk, and build confidence in infection prevention and control (IPC) practices across emergency response settings. Program FlyerDownload and share our official EMS/Fire Training flyer, highlighting the program’s purpose, offerings, and no‑cost availability.Click here for EMS and Fire Flyer download Program Overview  Our EMS/Fire training offerings are built around three pillars:Didactic EducationAvailable live, on‑site, virtual, or recordedIncludes a voiceover video module hosted on YouTubeTailored to the realities of prehospital care and transport environmentsHands‑On SimulationsScenario‑based, skill‑focused simulations that reinforce correct IPC practices in real‑world EMS and fire contextsDelivered on‑site…
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12Mar 2026 by Chelsea Song
Boot Camp is Back!

Boot Camp is Back!

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The event has ended. KyIP's 4th Annual Boot Camp marked its largest event to date, with more than 920 individuals registering for the program and over 510 attendees participating in the event. The Boot Camp continued to expand its reach and impact by providing education, expert led discussions, and collaborative learning opportunities focused on advancing prevention research and clinical innovation across Kentucky and beyond.Click here to learn more about Boot Camp and new opportunities.  Join KyIP's annual Infection Prevention Boot Camp for a full day of practical learning, expert insights, and real world strategies designed for today’s infection prevention challenges. Held virtually on May 6, this free training brings together professionals from across healthcare and public health to strengthen knowledge, share best practices, and build skills that support safer patient care and…
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27Feb 2026 by Chelsea Song
PPE – Proper removal is critical to prevent contamination

PPE – Proper removal is critical to prevent contamination

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Healthcare personnel understand the importance of PPE in preventing the spread of infection.  Although, selecting and correctly using protective equipment is essential to safeguard both patients and staff, proper removal of PPE is a critical step that is often overlooked. After providing patient care, PPE should be removed in a careful and deliberate sequence to avoid self-contamination. Once their interaction with a patient is finished, staff may mistakenly assume the highest-risk portion of care is over. In reality, most self-contamination occurs during the PPE removal process. Common mistakes during PPE removal include taking items off in the incorrect order, contaminating surfaces while doffing, and improperly disposing of soiled PPE.  Numerous studies show that many healthcare workers do not follow the correct removal sequence, and even among those who do, most…
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05Feb 2026 by Chelsea Song
From Observation to Action: Why Feedback Matters in Device Audits

From Observation to Action: Why Feedback Matters in Device Audits

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Central lines, indwelling urinary catheters, and other invasive devices can be life‑saving when used appropriately. However, without meticulous insertion and maintenance practices, these same devices can increase the risk of serious infection. To prevent this, healthcare organizations rely on evidence‑based bundles—sets of proven strategies grouped together to reduce complications associated with device use and other clinical procedures. Why Bundle Compliance Matters To ensure these bundles are used effectively, teams routinely conduct audits that evaluate whether each bundle element is met. These findings produce an overall compliance score. The higher the compliance, the lower the infection risk; conversely, low compliance signals an opportunity for improvement. But the real question is: What do we do with that information? There are two important steps: Provide immediate, individualized feedback to the nurse or clinician…
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