Category: Latest Articles from KyIP

As 2024 comes to a close, we at Kentucky Infection Prevention Training Center wanted to reflect on the progress we’ve made together and express our gratitude for your dedication and commitment to continuous learning. This year has been one of transformation, growth, and resilience in healthcare and we are honored to have been part of your educational journey. Over the past year, our team came together to strengthen infection prevention and control. Check out some of the highlights from 2024!   10 Newsletters (News and Articles - Kentucky Infection Prevention Training Center) RSV Holiday Travel and Health Pertussis Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month Back-To-School Health Tips Summer Skin Infections HPV IP Steps for a Safe Summer Measles Spring Illnesses   3 IP Educational Series (Preventative Measures Series - Kentucky Infection…

As we kick off 2025, the Kentucky Infection Prevention Training Center remains dedicated to providing impactful and practical training tailored to your needs. To achieve this, we need your input! We invite you to participate in our 2025 Learning Needs Assessment. This quick survey is your chance to tell us what topics and skills you want to see covered in our future trainings. Your feedback directly shapes the programs we create and ensures we’re meeting your needs. In 2024, the responses we received guided us in developing some of our most impactful trainings, including focused sessions on foodborne illnesses. wound care, and many more through CE development and educational webinars. We also continued programs, like our Infection Prevention Boot Camp, which covered critical topics like compliance, diagnostic stewardship, and enhanced…

Cold and flu season is here, and that means Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is too. Recent years have shown some variability in the RSV season, but it typically peaks in December through January. This may vary based on your geographic location. RSV is a common respiratory virus, similar in presentation, but more severe than other respiratory viruses. Babies are some of the most vulnerable of peoples, among others like young children and older adults to the threat of RSV. RSV can be particularly serious for babies and can escalate quickly. While there are hundreds of respiratory viruses, RSV is the leading cause of hospitalizations of infants in the United States. Approximately 58,000-80,000 children under age 5 are hospitalized every year due to RSV. Additionally it is estimated that almost all…

Pertussis, also known as Whooping Cough, is an illness with a name that captures its characteristic symptom—the cough. It's a sound that can be genuinely frightening, sometimes resembling a person gasping for air, and it just doesn’t seem to let up. The relentless coughing fits can cause severe respiratory distress and, in some cases, lead to failure. Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Despite the availability of vaccines, we are seeing a rise in cases, with current rates surpassing pre-pandemic levels and cases now four times higher than they were at this time last year. So, who is most at risk? Infants under one year of age, as well as individuals with immunocompromising conditions or asthma, are particularly vulnerable. Babies, especially, are not…

Children are gearing up for back to school, and some have already returned. When children miss school, they miss valuable opportunities for learning, social development, and emotional development. Let’s plan for a healthy school year. This starts with sufficient sleep, nutritious meals, and adequate physical activity to promote wellbeing. Even following those steps, children can become ill with any of the numerous common childhood illness. With students, families, and school staff following proper precautions, this will minimize disruptions from illnesses in the ever-important educational environment. For illnesses to spread, there needs to be a source, transmission, and a host. Transmission can be through contact with contaminated surfaces (e.g. desktops, doorknobs), sprays and splashes (e.g. from sneezing or coughing), inhalation from aerosolized particles, and vectors (e.g. mosquitos, ticks). The below measures…

Cancer—a heavy, scary, daunting diagnosis. Millions of Americans are affected by cancer every year, either themselves or someone they know. Technology is advancing at the speed of light, and for years now we have had access to a vaccine that prevents Human Papillomavirus (HPV), indirectly preventing many types of cancer, especially cervical cancer. It might sound strange to call the HPV vaccine an anti-cancer shot. However, when it prevents over 90% of HPV related cancers, it’s hard to explain it any other way. National Women's Health Week (May 12th-18th) is a pivotal time to spotlight the significance of the HPV vaccine in safeguarding women's health. By emphasizing the HPV vaccine in our newsletter during this month, we underscore the critical role it plays in preventing cervical cancer and promoting overall…