VIPTA is a statewide infection prevention and control education collaborative, led by the Virginia Healthcare-Associated Infections Advisory Group. Through partnership, VIPTA curates IPC resources for Virginia’s healthcare, congregate care, and public health settings.
“Wait – Do I Need PPE for This?” Making Sense of Enhanced Barrier Precautions
Infection prevention in long-term care takes teamwork—and sometimes a little extra reinforcement. It’s been a year since CMS formally added Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) to infection control guidance, and that big question— “Do I need PPE for this?”—still comes up.
EBP expands personal protective equipment (PPE) use beyond isolation, applying to high-contact care like wound care, changing linens, and bathing. EBP is key to stopping the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in long-term care facilities, but it takes clear systems and consistent staff education to make it stick.
What to Expect: This month’s resources are designed to meet your team where they are—whether you’re providing direct care, coordinating therapy, or supporting infection prevention efforts facility-wide.
- 8 Moments of Enhanced Barrier Precautions: Simple visual education tool. If you’ve ever heard “Do I need PPE for this?”—this tool is your new best friend. Also available in 8 other languages!
- VDH’s Enhanced Barrier Precautions in Nursing Homes Algorithm: This decision-making tool breaks down when and why to use EBP in plain language.
- CDC’s EBP Implementation—Observations Tool: Built for infection preventionists and facility leads, this resource helps track EBP use and identify areas for coaching
How to Use These Resources:
- Share the 8 Moments visual in breakrooms, care stations, huddles, or staff emails.
- Use the algorithm and observation tool to support your facility’s infection control plan or prep for survey readiness.
Enhanced Barrier Precautions are a big shift, but they’re not a solo effort. Whether you’re providing direct care or leading infection prevention and control (IPC) efforts, these tools are here to help you do the work and explain the why. Infection prevention is always evolving, but so are we.
✨Alex Minero Shines at Loudoun’s First SNF Symposium
We are thrilled to celebrate Alexander Minero, the Northern Regional Infection Preventionist working on behalf of the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). In November, Alex participated in Loudoun County’s very first Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Symposium. This inaugural event, held in partnership with Inova Loudoun Hospital, brought together skilled nursing facilities, hospital partners, and public health professionals to build stronger connections and spark meaningful conversations about shared challenges and successes.
Alex brought his signature energy and educator magic to the day, leading two engaging sessions. The first, “Standard Precautions, Contact Precautions, Enhanced Barrier Precautions, Oh My!” invited participants to test their knowledge through interactive techniques that kept everyone on their toes. His second session, “Infection Prevention and Control Assessments and Site Visits,” helped demystify the assessment process and gave facilities confidence to strengthen their infection prevention practices.
When asked about his preparation for the event, Alex shared, “I think prep is definitely key. I reviewed my slides several times and even timed myself. Also prepping for questions helps because you are not caught off guard.” That focus on readiness showed. Participants were learning, laughing, and leaning in the entire time.
What makes Alex shine is his commitment to hands-on learning. Whether he is facilitating a regional training, conducting education in English or Spanish, troubleshooting environment of care problems on a site visit, or supporting a facility with tricky infection prevention questions, he brings positivity, collaboration, and a genuine desire to help teams succeed.
Thank you, Alex, for your enthusiasm, leadership, and dedication to the facilities you serve. Your support helps make our long-term care and healthcare communities stronger, safer, and better connected.
If your facility is interested in partnering with Alex or any of the VDH Regional Infection Preventionists, visit https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/haiar/ip/
Cheers to you, Alex! Keep up the amazing work.
