Virginia Infection Prevention & Control Training Alliance (VIPTA)

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Rank that Risk! Rank the images of infection prevention gaps from highest risk to lowest risk

⏱️Train Your Team’s IP Eye: Quickly Rank That Risk!

Want a quick, hands-on way to boost your team’s infection prevention instincts? Rank That Risk! is a fast-paced training tool from the VDH IP Training Power Tools collection. It helps healthcare workers think like an IP by reviewing real-life infection control breaches and ranking them from highest to lowest risk.

What to Expect: The activity includes a facilitator guide and six location themed picture sets, so you can choose the version that best fits your setting. Each card sparks discussion, encourages critical thinking, and helps staff see risks from an IP perspective.

How to Use It: This tool works well in team huddles, safety rounds, or short in-service sessions. You can rotate different sets over time to keep it engaging.

Why It Works: It’s visual, fast, and interactive. This activity helps teams practice real-time decision making in a low-pressure environment.

Target Audience: Essential 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)

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...


Headshot of Tatjana Snyder

Dental Infection Prevention Star

Join us in celebrating a cutting-edge infection prevention and control leader in dental settings. Tatjana Snyder is an infection prevention specialist at Virginia Family Dentistry, leading dental infection prevention efforts at 16 locations. She holds the Certification in Dental Infection Prevention and Control (one of the first in Virginia to accomplish this!) and oversees infection prevention staff education and implementation of infection control strategies.

Tatjana ensures hygienic environments, conducts water quality assessments, and upholds dental safety protocols. Her commitment to patient care and safety is evident in her meticulous oversight of instrument sterilization and use of checklists to inspect what she expects. As a member of the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP), she advances dental safety practices and ensures adherence to high standards at all Virginia Family Dentistry locations.

Thank you Tatjana for being a champion for infection prevention in dental settings and working hard to keep patients safe!


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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