Virginia Infection Prevention & Control Training Alliance (VIPTA)

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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.

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Measles Micro Learning infographic

Measles Cases Hit 25-Year High: Is Your Team Prepared?

Measles is highly contagious and can spread before symptoms even appear. That’s why early recognition and rapid action are critical. As of July 22, 2025, 1,319 confirmed measles cases have been reported by 40 jurisdictions, including Virginia. This is the highest number since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000.

The Measles Micro-Learning from CDC’s Project Firstline is a quick, targeted training designed to help healthcare workers understand how measles spreads and how to stop it.

What to Expect: The short module reviews measles transmission, why it spreads so easily, and key steps to protect patients and coworkers. Clear visuals and real-world examples help staff connect the dots quickly.

How to Use It: Share it in a huddle, add it to an in-service, or assign it individually. It’s short, easy to fit into busy schedules, and makes an excellent refresher.

Why It Works: It’s direct, visual, and action-focused, with a facilitator guide to ensure consistent messaging.

Target Audience: Foundational IPC Education Level

Guidance & Regulation Updates

VIPTA members track guidance and regulation resources to share source documents that guide infection prevention and control practices for public health staff and clinical and non-clinical healthcare personnel.

The date of the regulation or guidance update is included in each post.  Please check linked content to be sure it is the most up to date and recommended practice.

Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA)
SHEA
Acute Care Hospital
Nursing Home / Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)
Pediatric / NICU
Infection Prevention and Control of Candida auris in Pediatric Settings (6/23/2026) The guidance recommends identifying at-risk pediatric patients through targeted screening, using appropriate isolation and room-placement precautions, and coordinating closely with infection prevention and public health partners when Candida auris is suspected or confirmed. It also emphasizes prevention through meticulous hand hygiene, effective environmental cleaning and disinfection, and careful management of shared medical equipment, toys, common spaces, visitors, breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, and caregiver-child interactions.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 
CMS
Nursing Home / Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)
Regulatory Compliance
CMS QSO-26-14-NH Memo: Nursing Home Risk-Based Survey National Implementation (7/16/2026) CMS will implement a nationwide risk-based survey process beginning September 8, 2026. Qualifying high-performing nursing homes may receive streamlined recertification surveys, allowing survey resources to be focused on facilities and complaints that present greater risks to resident health and safety.
VDH: Clinician Letter – Measles Outbreak Expansion and Back-to-School Immunizations (6/26/2026)
VDH
Acute Care Hospital
Ambulatory (Outpatient) Care
Department of Health
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Pediatric / NICU
Emergency Preparedness & Operations
Vaccination
Clinician Letter: Measles Outbreak Expansion and Back-to-School Immunizations (6/26/2026) The Virginia Department of Health announced that the Buckingham County measles outbreak has expanded to Cumberland County. Review the expanded outbreak vaccination recommendations, encourage patients to stay up to date on immunizations before the school year, and immediately report suspected or confirmed measles cases to your local health department.

Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA)

SHEA

Infection Prevention and Control of Candida auris in Pediatric Settings (6/23/2026) The guidance recommends identifying at-risk pediatric patients through targeted screening, using appropriate isolation and room-placement precautions, and coordinating closely with infection prevention and public health partners when Candida auris is suspected or confirmed. It also emphasizes prevention through meticulous hand hygiene, effective environmental cleaning and disinfection, and careful...

From Outbreak Response to Lasting Success at Bland Nursing and Rehab

Building a Strong Foundation

Bland Nursing and Rehab, a ventilator-capable skilled nursing facility in Southwest Virginia, recently achieved a major milestone: its carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumanii (CRAB) outbreak has officially closed, with no new cases identified. This success came from a team effort focused on strengthening infection prevention practices across the facility.

Leadership secured a full-time infection preventionist and built strong support from key leaders, including the administrator, director of nursing, assistant director of nursing, wound care nurse, and respiratory therapy manager. Together, they created a culture focused on safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Turning Plans into Action

The facility redesigned its environmental services program by updating cleaning policies, introducing an automated disinfectant dispensing system, and switching to single-use microfiber mops for each resident room. Staff received retraining and competency validation to ensure consistent practices.

The team also strengthened personal protective equipment (PPE), hand hygiene, and isolation precaution monitoring through regular audits, observations, and staff education. Respiratory therapy practices were enhanced through direct observation, competency validation, simulation-based training, and routine audits of ventilator and tracheostomy care.

Keep the Momentum Going

Bland Nursing and Rehab’s success shows that lasting infection prevention is possible when leadership, education, monitoring, and teamwork come together. Facilities looking to strengthen their own programs can take advantage of these free resources:

  • CDC Project Firstline: Practical training materials and educational resources to support staff education and reinforce infection prevention best practices.
  • VDH Infection Prevention and Control Assessments: No-cost, consultative, non-regulatory onsite help to identify strengths and address potential gaps in your facility’s infection prevention and control program.
    These resources can help facilities proactively strengthen infection prevention practices to protect residents, staff, and the entire care community.

IPC Education & Training Library

Search the VIPTA library of curated infection prevention and control (IPC) education and training resources. The IPC Education & Training Resource Library includes state and national resources related to healthcare-associated infections, antimicrobial resistance and/or IPC. Visit the VIPTA FAQ page to learn more about VIPTA library content.

 

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