In this episode recorded at the 2023 SHEA Spring Meeting in Seattle, Martin talks to Associate Professor Alex Sundermann about his work on sequencing all isolates from local healthcare settings and the discoveries that this enables. Healthcare infections due to previous admissions, endoscopes, even pseudo-outbreaks are all laid bare by this approach. Some recent papers from the group are listed below: 1. Sundermann AJ, et al. Two artificial tears outbreak-associated cases of XDR Pseudomonas aeru...
May 04, 2023•17 min•Season 2Ep. 104
In this second discussion of an abstract presented at the SHEA Spring meeting 2023 in Seattle, Martin talks to MPH candidate Olivia Hess about her work on staff opinions of automated hand hygiene monitoring. Olivia works as a member of Dr Gonzalo Bearman's group at VCU Health (Virginia Commonwealth University) in Richmond, Virginia. We discuss staff attitudes to the technology and it's utility, which are almost universally negative. Some recent papers on automated hand hygiene monitoring: M. A. ...
Apr 27, 2023•12 min•Season 3Ep. 103
In this episode recorded at the 2023 SHEA Spring Meeting in Seattle, Martin talks to abstract presenter Dr Lamia Alam about the work of a Johns' Hopkins group on a systematic review of human factors relating to cleaning in the Operating Room. We discuss the abstract presented at the meeting and also previous work in human factors and environmental service workers from this group that are particular favourites of Martin's (detailed below). Relevant papers: 1. A. Xie, et al. 2018 Improving Daily P...
Apr 20, 2023•13 min•Season 3Ep. 102
This is the 100th episode of Infection Control Matters and includes a special announcement. A big thanks to our 110+ guests so far. In this podcast, Martin, Brett and Phil talk about what we've not covered, some stats and what is to come next. Check out out new website: https://infectioncontrolmatters.com/
Apr 14, 2023•34 min•Season 3Ep. 101
In this episode, Martin Kiernan talks to Dr Valeria Fabre, Associate Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Associate Medical Director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program and an Associate Hospital Epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. We discuss the recent SHEA position paper on practical aspects of diagnostic stewardship and the use of the diagnostic pathway (ie, ordering, collecting, processing, reporting, and interpreting results of a diagnostic ...
Apr 06, 2023•23 min•Season 3Ep. 100
In this episode Brett and Martin talk to Mairéad Skally and Prof Fidelma Fitzpatrick about their efforts to minimise Clostridioides difficile infections in the Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, Ireland. Mairéad is a Surveillance Scientist and Fidelma is a Consultant Microbiologist and also Head of Department of Clinical Microbiology at the Royal College of Surgeons (Ireland). We discuss 10 years of surveillance in the Beaumont and analysis of a rich pool of data that has helped them achieve a status ...
Mar 28, 2023•29 min•Season 3Ep. 99
In this week's episode, Martin talks to Professor Jean-Yves Maillard from the Cardiff School of Pharmacy in Wales. We discuss detention, removal and prevention of biofilms in wet and dry environments. A range of papers on this topic from his group are listed below. D. I. Centeleghe, et al. 2023 Klebsiella pneumoniae survives on surfaces as a dry biofilm Am J Infect Control https://doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2023.02.009 T. J. Tewes, et al. 2022 Raman Microscopic Analysis of Dry-Surface Biofilms on Clinic...
Mar 23, 2023•19 min•Season 3Ep. 98
In this week's episode, Brett and Martin talk to Dr Mark Garvey, Consultant Clinical Scientist at University Hospitals Birmingham in the UK. We discuss a new paper from the UHB team which looks at the practical aspects of contamination within the splash radius of a clinical hand hygiene sink in a critical care area. The range of high risk equipment within the zone is quite interesting! Papers mentioned are as below. 1. Garvey MI, Williams N, Gardiner A, Ruston C, Wilkinson M, Kiernan M, et al. T...
Mar 15, 2023•19 min•Season 3Ep. 97
We talk about the knowledge attitudes and practice of nurses regarding oral hygiene of dependent inpatients in this podcast with Dr Isabel Oliveira. Understanding these is an important element of improving oral care and potentially reducing hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP) more broadly. Isbael is a rehabilitation nurse with a particular focus and interest in dysphagia and oral care, including the prevention of HAP. She works at the Centre for Health Studies and Research of the University of Coi...
Mar 09, 2023•16 min•Season 3Ep. 96
In this episode, Brett talks to Associate Professor Matthew Davis about his clinical experience and recent systematic review, exploring the topic of whether indwelling vs intermittent catheterisation increases the risk of UTI. Matt is an Associate Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at McGovern Medical School in Houston and has a strong clinician background in caring for people with Spinal Cord Injury. Here are the papers we refer to in the podcast: DAVIS, M., JETHANI, L., ROBBIN...
Feb 28, 2023•18 min•Season 3Ep. 95
In this first episode of 2023, Martin talks to Melissa Rochon and Prof Judith Tanner about their recent paper in the Journal of Hospital Infection that reports on the use of patient-generated images in SSI surveillance. Papers discussed: 1. Rochon M, et al. Image-based digital post-discharge surveillance in England: measuring patient enrolment, engagement, clinician response times, surgical site infection, and carbon footprint. J Hosp Infect. 2023;133:15-22. https://doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2023.01.00...
Feb 28, 2023•33 min•Season 3Ep. 94
In the final podcast of the year, we reflect on some lighthearted moments from 2022 and share our thoughts on a few favourite papers, reflections and podcasts. Being the Christmas special, it isn't too serious.. See you in 2023! Brett's highlighted papers: 1. Peters A, et al. Impact of environmental hygiene interventions on healthcare-associated infections and patient colonization: a systematic review. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 2022;11(1):38. https://doi:10.1186/s13756-022-01075-1 2. Dan...
Dec 21, 2022•41 min•Season 1Ep. 93
In this week's episode, Brett and Martin talk to Dr Emma Burnett, Head of Campus, Fatima College of Health Sciences, Ajman, UAE. We discuss a recent collaborative that has resulted in two papers that examine the development of a conceptual framework that underpins the formation of an optimal infection prevention service. The papers that we discuss are listed below. 1. Robinson J, et al. Designing an optimal infection prevention service: Part 2. Journal of Infection Prevention. 2022. https://doi:...
Dec 15, 2022•41 min•Season 2Ep. 92
In this week's episode Martin talks to Brett and Professor Maria Northcote about a recent paper on the expeciences of healthcare-associated infection on the lives of patients. The importance of communication is one of the avenues that we go down. 1. Mitchell BG, et al. Patients' perspectives of healthcare-associated infection: 'you don't know what impacts it will have on your life'. J Hosp Infect. 2022;126:93-102. doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2022.04.014 https://www.journalofhospitalinfection.com/article/...
Dec 08, 2022•22 min•Ep. 91
In this week's episode, Brett, Phil and Martin have a catch-up at the ACIPC conference in Sydney following Brett's session in which the audience were invited to select their priorities for action over the next year. Would the HCAIS that present the biggest burden (HAP and CAUTI) figure highly?
Dec 01, 2022•12 min•Season 2Ep. 90
In this special episode for World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, Martin talks to UKHSA subject experts about the ESPAUR Report (English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Utilisation and Resistance) released earlier today. You can find out more on the report at the ESPAUR webinar on 23rd November and can register here to attend: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/espaur-report-2021-to-2022-webinar-tickets-439575370767 The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is responsible for protecting every mem...
Nov 21, 2022•39 min•Season 2Ep. 85
In this episode, recorded live on stage in front of an audience at the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC) Conference being held in Sydney. Brett, Phil and Martin talk to Sally HAvers and Belinda Henderson about the challenges facing IPC workers in aged care in Australia and future priorities for IPC going forward in acute care.
Nov 15, 2022•24 min•Season 2Ep. 89
In another discussion recorded at the Infection Prevention Society Conference in Bournemouth (UK), Martin and Brett chatted to Dr Annette Jeanes and Prof Jean-Yves Maillard. Annette formerly was the Director of IPC at University College London Hospital NHS Trust, and now works independently. We discuss her time working in the film industry during COVID, and how the varied skillset of an IP practitioner is transferable into what you might think of a completely alien setting. Following that discus...
Nov 09, 2022•34 min•Ep. 88
In this episode recorded at the Infection Prevention Society Conference in Bournemouth (UK), Martin talks to Dr Jon Otter (from Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London), where he is the joint Director of Infection Prevention and Control. We discuss a paper that he gave at the conference on the topic of language and getting the message over. A copy of his excellent presentation complete with the references to the papers that we discuss can be found downloaded from here - https://jonot...
Nov 02, 2022•21 min•Ep. 87
In this first episode recorded at the Infection Prevention Society Conference (Bournemouth, UK) we talk to Dr Holly Slyne about how the Mouth Care Matters programme resulted in a reduction in C. difficile infections by way of reducing healthcare-associated pneumonias and antibiotic use. Holly has kindly shared some resources, please see links below. Following that, Brett, Phil and Martin have a chat about the importance of face-to-face meetings and our conference highlights so far. Health Educat...
Oct 27, 2022•22 min•Season 2Ep. 86
In this episode, Martin and Brett get views on contact/droplet/airborne transmission from an Engineer (Prof Cath Noakes) and a Physicist (Prof Lidia Morawska). Prof Catherine Noakes OBE is Professor of Environmental Engineering for Building at the University of Leeds. She is a chartered mechanical engineer, with a background in fluid dynamics. Her teaching and research expertise is in building physics and environmental engineering and leading research into ventilation, indoor air quality and inf...
Oct 19, 2022•29 min•Season 2Ep. 84
In this podcast, Phil, Martin and Brett try to summarise the key messages they heard from recent guests discussing contact, droplet and airbourne transmission. What were the key points and similarities? Find out in this podcast.
Oct 13, 2022•27 min•Season 2Ep. 83
In part 4 of this series on the current IPC paradigms of contact, droplet and airborne, we hear from a further range of guests on this topics. This week we talk to: Hilary Humphries (Ireland) David Enoch (UK) Jennie Wilson (UK) Michael Borg (Malta) Jon Otter (UK Pierre Parneix (France) If you haven't listened to the previous episodes in the series, please listen to them first.
Oct 10, 2022•38 min•Season 2Ep. 82
In part 3 of this series on the current IPC paradigms of contact, droplet and airborne, we hear from a range of guests on this topics. This week we talk to: Marjia Juraja (Australia) Egil Lingaas (Norway) Ramon Shaban (Australia) Elaine Cloutman-Green (England) Christine Peters (Scotland) If you haven't listened to the previous two episodes in the series, please listen to them first.
Oct 06, 2022•29 min•Season 3Ep. 81
In this podcast, Brett, Phil and Martin discuss the current IPC paradigms of contact, droplet and airborne. Over the course of the next 3 podcasts, we will briefly talk to a range of people from across the world on their view on this topic. In this podcast, we introduce the topic and hear from our first two guests. The purpose of this podcast is to hear a range of views, with the goal of moving this topic forward. In this kick-off episode we also talk to Kirsty Buising (Melbourne, Australia) Kat...
Oct 06, 2022•21 min•Season 2Ep. 79
In part 2 of this series on the current IPC paradigms of contact, droplet and airborne, we hear from a range of guests on this topics. This week we talk to: Rhonda Stewart (Australia) Kalisvar Marimuthu (Singapore) Gonzalo Bearman (USA) Belinda Henderson (Australia) Jan Kluytmans (Netherlands) Caroline Marshall (Australia) If you haven't listened to the previous episode (last week), please listen to that first.
Oct 01, 2022•30 min•Season 2Ep. 80
In this week's episode, Brett and Martin are joined by Professor Hilary Humphreys of the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland. They discuss a recent paper that quantifies the impact of TB work on an acute hospital IPC team workload
Sep 21, 2022•17 min•Season 2Ep. 78
In this week's podcast, Brett and Phil discuss an article just published in the American Journal of Infection Control titled "Concerns and frustrations about the public reporting of device-related healthcare-associated infections: Perspectives of hospital leaders and staff". The link to the article is here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35948123/ Other papers mentioned in this podcast: Mary Dixon Woods study: What Counts? An Ethnographic Study of Infection Data Reported to a Patient Safety Pro...
Sep 14, 2022•18 min•Season 2Ep. 75
In this week's episode Brett and Martin discuss a recent paper from the ESGNI (ESCMID Study Group for Nosocomial Infections) that looks at a survey of environmental sampling practrices in Europe. Are we more confident on our abilities than we should be? As ever, more questions and answers with this one. We also highlight a very useful paper published in JHI a couple of years aso (See below) ESGNI Link - https://www.escmid.org/research_projects/study_groups/study_groups_g_n/nosocomial_infections/...
Sep 07, 2022•18 min•Season 2Ep. 77
In this week's episode, Phil and Martin talk to Bob Garcia, microbiology-trained infection preventionist, about a recent collaborative expert paper published in the American Journal of Infection Control that suggested recommendations about the future of IPC practice. Paper discussed is here: 1. Garcia R, et al. Recommendations for change in infection prevention programs and practice. Am J Infect Control. 2022. https://doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2022.04.007...
Aug 31, 2022•28 min•Season 2Ep. 74
