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📢 Hot Topics
Welcome to our New HAI/AR Program Manager!
On January 12th, Andrea Chapman, MPH, CIC assumed the role of VDH Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Program Manager. Andrea brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from her previous roles as the VDH HAI Program Manager from 2010-2016, an acute care hospital infection preventionist, and most recently as the VDH Regional Infection Prevention Coordinator. Thanks to Shaina Bernard for serving in the Acting Program Manager role and leading the team until the position was filled.
New Joint Healthcare Infection Prevention Advisory Group
The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) have announced a new collaborative initiative, the Healthcare Infection Prevention Advisory Group (HIPAG), to address infection prevention priorities of national importance.
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HIPAG was established to help fill the gaps left by the elimination of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. It aims to ensure continuity by offering timely, evidence-informed advisory expertise that supports the needs of participating organizations and the broader healthcare community.
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This group will include invited representative experts across medical societies, healthcare organizations, public health, and patient advocacy groups and will help maintain a unified approach to infection prevention as new challenges and emerging threats continue to evolve.
👉 Review the HIPAG press release for more information.
Marburg Virus Disease in Ethiopia
CDC has released a Health Advisory about a Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak in Ethiopia. As of December 22, 2025, no cases of MVD related to this outbreak have been reported outside of Ethiopia. Risk of spread to the U.S. is considered low.
Clinicians should stay alert, ask about recent travel in patients with fever, and rule out more common causes of illness. Travelers to Ethiopia should follow routine precautions and monitor their health for 21 days after leaving the affected area.
👉 Visit CDC’s Marburg Virus Disease website for the latest updates and guidance.
Updated Guidelines for Perioperative Practice
The Association for Perioperative Nurses (AORN) has updated its evidence-based practice recommendations (Guidelines for Perioperative Practice) for 2026. Six of the guidelines have been updated, including Transmission-Based Precautions, Instrument Cleaning, Safe Use of Surgical Energy Devices, Care of the Patient Receiving Local-Only Anesthesia, Pneumatic Tourniquet Safety, and Autologous Tissue Management.
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📢 News in Virginia
Stay Alert for Measles
As measles continues to circulate in the U.S., Virginia healthcare providers should remain vigilant for febrile rash illnesses consistent with measles, particularly among unvaccinated individuals and those with recent international travel or travel to U.S. regions experiencing outbreaks. Measles should be considered in patients with fever and a generalized maculopapular rash, usually accompanied by cough, coryza, or conjunctivitis.
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Isolate: Immediately isolate the patient in a single-patient airborne infection isolation room (AIIR) or in a private room with a closed door until an AIIR is available. Patients with suspected measles should not stay in the waiting room or other common areas of a healthcare facility.
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Notify: Immediately notify your local health department to ensure rapid testing and investigation.
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Test: Submit a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab in viral transport media for PCR testing and a blood specimen for serology testing at the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) following instructions for specimen collection and handling. Test results are available in less than 24 hours.
👉 Visit VDH’s measles website to learn about the most recent measles cases and exposure locations. For information for healthcare personnel, go to Measles Information for Healthcare Providers.
Respiratory Illness Season is Upon Us
‘Tis the season for respiratory illness! Overall respiratory illness activity in Virginia is moderate, mostly due to increases in flu activity. Visit the VDH Respiratory Illness Dashboard to see the latest trends in your area.
Prevention is the best way to keep from getting very sick from flu, COVID-19, and RSV.
👉 Access the VDH Respiratory Diseases Toolkit for flyers and graphics to spread prevention messages in your facility.
New VDH Multidrug-Resistant Organisms Webpage
Access a broader set of resources on multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), beyond Candida auris and carbapenem-resistant or carbapenemase-producing organisms.
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📢 National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)
Updates to 2026 Patient Safety Component Protocols and Tables of Instructions
A summary of the significant updates to the Patient Safety Component (PSC) protocols and tables of instructions are now available. The full updated 2026 PSC surveillance protocols and tables of instructions are posted on the NHSN website and should be used beginning January 1, 2026.
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📢 Training & Education
Standard, Transmission-Based, and Enhanced Barrier Precautions – Looking for a colorful, easy-to-use resource describing the differences between Standard, Transmission-Based, and Enhanced Barrier Precautions? VDH has a new flyer for you!
Live – A new drop of Infection Prevention Rapid Resources is now available, with resources tailored for both essential and foundational audiences. New topics include Burkholderia, Candida auris, carbapenem-resistant organisms, and Group A Strep. These quick, practical tools are designed to support timely training and real-world application across settings.
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Clinical topics in the toolkit center around four key strategies to protect skin and prevent infection: (1) Keep skin clean and safe; (2) Reduce MDRO transmission; (3) Use antibiotics wisely; and (4) Clean high-touch surfaces.
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The toolkit also includes “teachable moments.” These documents use real-world healthcare scenarios to reinforce concepts related to skin care and infection prevention.
Making Dialysis Safer for Patients Coalition – A CDC-led collaborative initiative offering infection prevention resources, tools, and educational webinars for dialysis providers and partners. Learn how to get involved and access coalition resources.
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📢 Making Connections
✴️ Cuppa Tea with an IP. Cuppa Tea with an IP is a weekly chance to chat live with a VDH IP and subject matter experts about your infection prevention and control questions. We can’t wait to hear your questions and see how we can help. Register once for the Cuppa Tea with an IP meetings and attend whenever you have questions or need a little IP peer boost.
✴️ Vitamin IPC. Subscribe to the monthly Vitamin IPC bulletin by Virginia Infection Prevention & Control Training Alliance (VIPTA) for essential resources and access to events to enhance frontline healthcare personnel’s infection prevention and control training.
✴️ Clinician Letter. This emailed letter is sent to all currently licensed healthcare professionals in the Commonwealth to communicate urgent updates. Access archived letters at Clinician Letters - Clinicians (virginia.gov)
✴️ Healthcare Professional Newsletter. A subscriber-based monthly newsletter for Virginia healthcare professionals with updates on outbreaks, emerging diseases, reporting requirements, resources, and trainings. Subscribe and access archived newsletters at Healthcare Professional Newsletter - Clinicians (virginia.gov)
We Want to Hear from You!
Connect with us by visiting our website or email us at hai@vdh.virginia.gov.
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