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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My 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene Game

Navigating the Hand Hygiene Galaxy

Hand hygiene remains one of the most important — and powerful — actions we can take to protect patients and ourselves. This year, in honor of World Hand Hygiene Day on Monday, May 5, 2025, we’re inviting you to chart a course for cleaner hands — and a healthier galaxy — with some stellar tools.

What to Expect: To support your hand hygiene efforts this May, here are a few resources that are out of this world:

  • WHO Hand Hygiene Game: Step into a futuristic hospital in space and stop the spread of infections by completing all five levels in this interactive, free training game.
  • CDC Hand Hygiene Program Video Series: A four-part educator video series built around the “4 Es” — Engage, Educate, Empower, and Evaluate — providing plain language tools and strategies to invigorate hand hygiene teaching.
  • VDH Hand Hygiene In-Service Slide Deck: Ready-to-use PowerPoint training that covers essential hand hygiene practices will get you ready for training in the blink of an eye. It is one of many VDH hand hygiene resources.

How to Use These Resources: 

  • Host a Hand Hygiene Challenge: Encourage staff to compete to complete all five levels of the WHO Hand Hygiene Game. Participants who complete the mission can be entered into a prize drawing — and help boost team engagement!
  • Inspire Champions with the CDC Video Series: Use CDC hand hygiene program videos to energize your Champions of Healthcare Infection Prevention (CHIP) and prep them to deliver quick, relatable education to peers. Turn everyday moments into hand hygiene wins across your facility.
  • Expand World Hand Hygiene Day into a Week with the VDH Slide Deck: Pull key slides to create daily huddles leading up to May 5th. A quick message each day builds momentum, keeps clean hands top of mind, and turns a single event into a weeklong celebration.

No matter where your healthcare journey takes you — from bedside to breakroom — navigating the hand hygiene galaxy starts with clean hands.

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.

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.
VDH: Clinician Letter – Public Health Updates on Measles, Ebola Preparedness, and Travel-Associated Illnesses (6/03/2026)
VDH
Acute Care Hospital
Ambulatory (Outpatient) Care
Department of Health
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Pediatric / NICU
Emergency Preparedness & Operations
Vaccination
Clinician Letter: Public Health Updates on Measles, Ebola Preparedness, and Travel-Associated Illnesses (6/03/2026) This clinician letter provides updates on rising measles activity, Ebola preparedness, and travel-associated illnesses. Protect patients and staff by maintaining a high index of suspicion, assessing travel history, following infection control guidance, ensuring vaccination coverage, and promptly reporting suspected cases to your local health department.
APIC: New Toolkit to Address Problematic Manufacturer Instructions for Use for Non‑Critical Devices (5/08/2026)
APIC
Any Practice Setting
Department of Health
Quality Improvement
Regulatory Compliance
New Toolkit to Address Problematic Manufacturer Instructions for Use for Non‑Critical Devices: This toolkit provides practical strategies and resources to help healthcare professionals address problems with manufacturer instructions for use (IFUs) for non-critical medical devices. It supports infection preventionists in safely reprocessing devices when IFUs are unclear, incomplete, or difficult to follow.  *Access this resource with a free APIC account.

Meet APIC Virginia’s Board Members

This month in Cheers for Peers, we would like to spotlight a few of the 2024 board members of the Virginia chapter of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC Virginia).

MAI JATTA, APIC Virginia President

  • Facility: Carilion Clinic
  • Why did you get into infection prevention? As someone who contemplated going into public health but ultimately decided to go into nursing, the role of the infection preventionist perfectly combined my interests.  The IP role has allowed me to use my nursing skills and knowledge while also acquiring and applying public health principles to promote and advance patient safety. 
  • What do you love about being part of APIC? APIC provides resources and a wide network of support for IPs. Through APIC, I have met and learned from a wide variety of experts in the field. I am most grateful for the relationships I have been able to establish and build, gaining mentors and colleagues in the field. Having resources and a network of support is pivotal to success in infection prevention efforts.
  • Fun fact about yourself! I am a subtle food connoisseur. 

MARKO PREDIC, APIC Virginia Membership Secretary

  • Facility HCA Capital Division – Corporate
  • Why did you get into infection prevention? The ability to make the greatest impact for a wide range of patients.
  • What do you love about being part of APIC? APIC is a great opportunity to network with like-minded individuals who are working towards a common goal- improving patient outcomes. We share in our successes and failures and celebrate ingenuity.
  • Fun fact about yourself! I was a college rower for 4 years at the University of Florida. 

CINDY TAYLOR, APIC Virginia 1st Year Director

  • Facility: UVA Health (acute care hospital, more than 100 outpatient clinics) 
  • Why did you get into infection prevention? By default, like most of us. The job needed doing and I was assigned the work.  
  • What do you love about being part of APIC? Networking with members, assisting each other with problem solving or just sharing IP stories.
  • Fun fact about yourself! I once traveled to NYC on a private jet! We were met at the airport by a limousine and escorted for a day of Christmas shopping at Manhattan’s finest stores, including Tiffany’s! 

CHARMAYNE FLOWERS, APIC Virginia Recording Secretary

  • Facility: Hampton VA Medical Center
  • Why did you get into infection prevention? I’ve always been fascinated by diseases and the different types of organisms and wanted to learn what I could do to protect my patients and community.
  • What do you love about being part of APIC? I got to become a part of another family who supports and nurtures each other in our profession.
  • Fun fact about yourself! Although I don’t have much time for it nowadays, I love to dance. 

EBONI CRAWFORD, APIC Virginia Treasurer

  • Facility: Chesapeake Regional Medical Center
  • Why did you get into infection prevention? Learned of the profession during my time with the Florida Department of Health and fell in love!
  • What do you love about being part of APIC? I love being part of such a supportive team – both professionally and personally.
  • Fun fact about yourself! I love all things stickers and creative journaling/planning! 

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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