contents healthcarehygienemagazine
BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN INFECTION PREVENTION / EPIDEMIOLOGY, SCIENTIFIC R & D, MANUFACTURING AND REGULATORY / COMPLIANCE
cover story
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Clostridioides difficile: Experts Tackle the Tough Issues Related to Testing & Transmission Prevention
By Kelly M. Pyrek
features
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Selecting Nasal Antiseptic Swabs for Nasal Decolonization
By Amanda Sivek, PhD, a-IPC; and Mairead Smith
Exploring the Future of HIPAG: A Q & A With APIC President Kathy Ward
By Kelly M. Pyrek columns
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24 from the editor vol. 8 no. 1 / 2 jan-feb 2026
Experts Issue a Call for the Universal Use of Respirators to Replace Surgical Masks in Healthcare Settings
By Kelly M. Pyrek
infection prevention
From Seat to Strategy: Embedding Infection Prevention into Organizational Leadership
By Deborah Ellis, PhD, MPH, AL-CIP, CPHQ, FACHE
under the microscope
Rethinking Vaccination Policy and Reinforcing Public Health’ s Foundation
By Rodney Rohde, PhD, MS, SM( ASCP) CM, SVCM, MBCM, FACSc
sterile processing
Infection Prevention and Sterile Processing: Partnering for Quality, Safety and Survey Readiness
By Eva Sabet Ghabrial, MBBCH, MHA, MPH, CIC, HACP, CRCST; and Casey Stanislaus Czarnowski, BA, CRCST, CIS, CER on the cover
This Petri dish culture plate was inoculated with a Clostridium difficile bacterial culture, producing numerous bacterial colonies. In this particular view, the plate had been illuminated using long-wave UV irradiation, hence, the bacterial colonies emitted a chartreuse fluorescent glow. Courtesy of CDC / Melissa Dankel / James Gathany.
4 • www. healthcarehygienemagazine. com • jan-feb 2026
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32 hand hygiene
Rethinking Hand Hygiene in Healthcare: A Comprehensive Approach to Infection Control
By Robert P. Lee
patient safety & quality
Handling Healthcare Personnel Behavior-Related Deviance to Uphold Patient Safety and Quality
By Kristina Pirollo Ketchum, BA, AA, CHL, CRCST
environmental hygiene
Expanded Guide to Patient Progression and Throughput in Acute-Care Hospitals: A National Call to Action for Healthcare Professionals and Administrators
By Michael Parker, CMIP, TCSCT, TCHEST, TCNACC
healthcare textiles & laundry
Early Warning Signs Your Hospital Linen Program Is About to Fail— And How to Fix It
By Gregory Gicewicz