Virginia Infection Prevention & Control Training Alliance (VIPTA)

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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Whoop Whoop! New Infection Prevention Playbook for Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

EMS touch all parts of healthcare and play a critical role in the infection prevention landscape. The updated EMS Infectious Disease Playbook condenses essential information into a single, comprehensive resource. It’s designed to assist EMS agencies in developing clear, effective policies that address a wide range of infection prevention topics like dispatch procedures, transmission-based precautions, personal protective equipment, and special considerations in pediatrics and aeromedical transport.  

EMS Infectious Disease Playbook from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Ways to Use This Resource 

  • Comprehensive Guidance: Provides streamlined workflows for education tailored to resonate with EMS personnel. 
  • Centralized Resource: Consolidates the latest guidelines from various sources, ensuring EMS professionals have immediate access to current standards. 

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.

AHRQ: Toolkit for Improving Skin Care and MDRO Prevention in Long-Term Care Settings
AHRQ
Acute Care Rehabilitation or Long-Term Care Acute Hospital (LTACH)
Assisted Living Facility (ALF)
Behavioral Health Facilities
Hospice and Palliative Care
Nursing Home / Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)
Antimicrobial & Diagnostic Stewardship
Toolkit for Improving Skin Care and Multidrug-Resistant Organism (MDRO) Prevention in Long-Term Care Settings   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.   The toolkit also includes “teachable moments.” These documents use real-world healthcare scenarios to reinforce concepts related to skin care and infection prevention.
APIC: Updated Monkeypox Playbook (11/07/2025)
APIC
Acute Care Hospital
Ambulatory (Outpatient) Care
Department of Health
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Mobile Clinic
Outbreak Investigation
Patient and Family Engagement
Surveillance
Recent updates to the Monkeypox Playbook include the CDC’s Traveler Health Notice advising enhanced precautions and an updated Risk/Triage Scale recommending increased awareness. Additional information covers the current global situation of monkeypox and the latest outbreak reports.
SHEA: Multisociety Guidance for Infection Prevention and Control in Nursing Homes (10/20/2025)
SHEA
Acute Care Rehabilitation or Long-Term Care Acute Hospital (LTACH)
Assisted Living Facility (ALF)
Hospice and Palliative Care
Nursing Home / Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)
The guidance offers recommendations for infection prevention and control (IPC) in nursing homes to address challenges including medical acuity and the rise of multidrug-resistant organisms. It emphasizes the importance of IPC leadership, training, and adherence to precautions while also considering the balance between maintaining a home-like environment and ensuring effective infection prevention measures.
SHEA/APIC: Multisociety Guidance for Infection Prevention and Control in Nursing Homes (10/28/2025)
APIC
SHEA
Acute Care Rehabilitation or Long-Term Care Acute Hospital (LTACH)
Assisted Living Facility (ALF)
Hospice and Palliative Care
Nursing Home / Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)
Cleaning and Disinfection
Employee/Occupational Health
Hand Hygiene
High Level Disinfection
Outbreak Investigation
Physical Environment / Environment of Care (EOC)
This guidance document updates the 2008 SHEA/Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) guideline: Infection Prevention and Control in the Long-Term Care Facility and is intended to assist nursing homes in the United States in defining and implementing their infection prevention and control (IPC) programs and practices. Recommendations and implementation suggestions address IPC leadership, staffing, and resources, healthcare personnel and residents‘ adherence to precautions and effective hand hygiene, outbreak preparedness, training, occupational health, cleaning and disinfection in the care environment, and the involvement of IPC in the facility.
VDH Clinician Letter: Updates to CDC Immunization Schedule (10/10/2025)
CDC
VDH
Ambulatory (Outpatient) Care
Department of Health
Pediatric / NICU
Vaccination
This clinician letter outlines updates to immunization schedules for MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella) and COVID-19 vaccines, emphasizing their essential role in community health and safety in Virginia. It discusses the new guidelines, including the separate administration of the MMR and varicella vaccines for children under 4 years, the COVID-19 vaccine's availability for individuals aged 6 months and older, and the importance of verifying insurance coverage prior to vaccination.
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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Last Updated: June 30, 2025