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ICTalk: Infection Control Today Podcast

ICTalk: Infection Control Today Podcast

著者： ICTalk: Infection Control Today Podcast
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 ICTalk: Infection Control Today Podcast is a podcast that dives into the latest trends, challenges, and solutions in infection prevention and control. This podcast delivers expert insights, real-world strategies, and actionable advice, covering topics relevant to health care professionals at every level—from C-suite executives to infection preventionists, sterile processing, environmental hygiene staff, and more. Join us for conversations with leading infection preventionists, industry experts, and thought leaders as we explore how to create safer environments, improve outcomes, and navigate the evolving landscape of infection control. 科学
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  • 17: Breaking the Silence: How to Talk About HIV and PrEP Without Fear

    17: Breaking the Silence: How to Talk About HIV and PrEP Without Fear
    2025/11/05
    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 approach these conversations, especially with teens, with clarity and empathy.

    “Fear and stigma get attached to subjects related to sexual health,” Morales began. “We need to move away from the fear and the stigma and just start having these conversations like we would talk about anything related to our general health maintenance.”

    That normalization, she explained, is key. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends HIV screening for everyone between the ages of 18 and 65, which is a higher rating than even routine blood pressure checks. Yet HIV is still often whispered about, creating unnecessary barriers to prevention. “It should be exactly the same,” Morales said. “We need to take the fear away from it so that we can start having conversations that are solely based on prevention and just trying to set us up for a successful, healthy life.”

    For those unfamiliar, Morales offered a quick refresher:
    “HIV is a sexually transmitted infection… The only way that you can get this infection is through sharing bodily fluids that have high amounts of the virus.” AIDS, she noted, is the advanced form that develops only without treatment. “Right now, we have so many great therapies that even if you were to get diagnosed with HIV, you can have a healthy, long life…by just taking one pill a day.”

    She went on to explain PrEP, preexposure prophylaxis, a medication that reduces the risk of infection by up to 99%. “We have 2 approved oral medications and 2 injectable medications… there’s literally an option for everybody,” she said. “It’s about starting this conversation with your provider and finding the right fit for your lifestyle.”

    Still, starting that conversation, especially with adolescents, can be daunting. “The first step… is reckoning with what you think these issues are, and finding what your biases might be,” she advised parents, educators, and health care professionals. “If you have doubts or uncomfortable feelings, that’s going to translate. Once you’re able to talk about this like you’re talking about going out to dinner or seeing friends—that’s the level of comfort you need.”

    She also emphasized that HIV does not discriminate. “It has nothing to do with who you’re having sex with,” she said. “If you are somebody who’s having unprotected sex, that is your risk factor. We have to move away from, ‘I’m not that person.’”

    For reliable information, Morales recommended the CDC’s HIV and PrEP resources, or local organizations like Hope & Help, which host community sessions and provide educational materials.

    Her final message was simple but powerful: “It’s okay to be uncomfortable, it’s okay to be fearful, but it’s important not to shy away from asking these important questions. Knowing your status is the first step.”

    In the end, talking about HIV and PrEP is not just about science; it is about breaking the silence. As Morales reminded Infection Control Today’s audience, information saves lives, but conversation opens the door.
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    19 分
  • 16: Veteran Infection Preventionists Chat: What Are The Soft Skills That Make Strong IPs?

    16: Veteran Infection Preventionists Chat: What Are The Soft Skills That Make Strong IPs?
    2025/11/01
    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 backgrounds reflected on the nonclinical skills that shaped their careers, the lessons learned the hard way, and the advice they would give to new IPs entering the field. Their message was clear: Technical expertise may get you in the door, but emotional intelligence, communication, and systems thinking keep the door open. Learning to Communicate Upward — and Effectively “Short and sweet and to the point,” began Joi A. McMillon, MBA HA, BSN, CRRN, WCC, CIC, CJCP, HACP-CMS, AL-CIP, the CEO of JAB Infection Control Experts. “I wish I had understood better how to communicate effectively.” She was reflecting on the early days of her career. “When I came in, I was very young and very passionate, but I didn’t have a mentor. I didn’t have anyone to help me translate that passion into communication that resonated with leadership,” she said. “When you’re not able to communicate effectively, you’re not just holding yourself back, you’re holding the entire program back.” Her experience underscores a common challenge for new IPs who may know the science inside out but struggle to gain traction with the C-suite. Infection prevention is a field where evidence meets advocacy, and communication gaps can mean stalled initiatives or lost resources. Emotional Intelligence: The Quiet Skill That Changes Everything ICT contributing editor Carole W. Kamangu, MPH, RN, CIC, the CEO, founder, and principal infection prevention strategist for Dumontel Healthcare Consulting, took that point further, stressing the importance of self-awareness and emotional intelligence. “I wish I had realized earlier that I needed emotional intelligence,” she said. “I was naturally good at challenging the status quo, but early on, I wasn’t doing it effectively. I knew what I wanted to change, but I didn’t always communicate it in a way that kept people engaged. When someone pushed back, I would take it personally and have the worst day.” It took her years, she admitted, to learn to pause before entering a unit and ask herself: How am I feeling? How are they likely to react? That reflection transformed her interactions from combative to collaborative. “It’s about being aware of your own emotions before you even start the conversation,” she said. “That’s when productive dialogue can actually happen.” Don’t Take It Personally — Take It Professionally Lerenza L. Howard, DHSc, MHA, CIC, LSSGB, manager of infection prevention and quality improvement at La Rabida Children’s Hospital in Chicago, added another layer to the conversation: perspective. “In the professional world, don’t take it personal,” she advised. “As IPs, we’re partnering with a multitude of stakeholders, all with competing priorities. You need emotional intelligence and effective communication to empathize with that, and still strategically navigate your initiative to the finish line.” She emphasized systems thinking — understanding how infection prevention fits into the larger operational web of a hospital. “Knowing where your department fits in helps you propose initiatives and request resources more effectively,” she said. “It’s not just about infection control. It’s about how infection control supports the system as a whole.” Top Three Skills for Every IP When asked for her essentials, Nathaniel Napolitano, MPH, the CEO of Nereus Health Consulting and a health care epidemiologist for Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, didn’t hesitate. “Interpersonal communication for relationship management — that’s number 1. Otherwise, nothing gets done, or it gets done painfully,” she said. “Number 2: confidence in decision-making. Trust your gut. And number 3: creative problem-solving. Because you will face problems you never imagined would fall within your scope.” Kamangu quickly added with a laugh, “Nathan is a very creative person. I love working with him,” highlighting that creativity isn’t just a “nice to have” in infection prevention; it’s survival. The Ripple Effect of Systems Thinking Echoing earlier remarks, Missy Travis, MSN, RN, CIC, FAPIC, a consultant for IP&C Consulting and a former nurse, described the “ripple effect” mindset as essential. “Realize it’s not all about you,” she said. “What you do has a ripple effect. We’re all connected. What I do affects you, and what you do affects me. That awareness changes how you communicate — it makes you listen as much as you speak.” Her point struck a chord with the group: ...
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    15 分
  • 15: Bug of the Month: I'm Older Than Empires

    15: Bug of the Month: I'm Older Than Empires
    2025/10/31
    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 teaching tool to help educate health care personnel and start a dialogue about microbiology-related imperatives.

    Find more Bug of the Month articles on www.infectioncontroltoday.com!
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    4 分
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