Image of the first page of the CDC Conversation Guide for Healthcare Providers. Talking with Patients about How to Protect Against Fall and Winter Respiratory Viruses.

Support for the Urgent Need to Increase Immunization Coverage this Winter

On December 14^th, CDC released a health advisory about the ongoing need to vaccinate against viral respiratory infections this winter. To help healthcare workers, the health advisory included supporting data and educational resources that we are featuring this month.

Ways to Share these Resources

Update your patient communication script for the electronic medical record; it isn’t too late to vaccinate!
These conversation-based education resources may be key for those who didn’t vaccinate early.

Target Audience: Essentials 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.

ASHRAE: Ventilation of Healthcare Facilities (2/16/2026)

Any Practice Setting

Air Quality

Ventilator

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Ventilation of Healthcare Facilities (02/16/2026) The 2025 edition of ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170 outlines minimum ventilation requirements for health care facilities, emphasizing compliance and best practices for HVAC system design. Key updates include the option for natural ventilation, total outdoor air calculations for combined spaces, and clarified requirements for imaging and outpatient areas.

CDC: Updated 2026 National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Surveillance Protocols (January 2026)

CDC

Any Practice Setting

Department of Health

Surveillance

CDC updated the NHSN Patient Safety Component Manual, including Antimicrobial Use and Resistance (AUR) Module protocols and data definitions used for facility reporting. These updates include new documentation and reporting guidance, effective for 2026 surveillance. A summary of updates is available on the CDC website.

APIC: New White Paper on Centralized Health-Associated Infection Surveillance Programs and Micro-Credential to Advance Centralized HAI Surveillance and Patient Safety (1/20/2026)

APIC

Any Practice Setting

Department of Health

Surveillance

This paper offers guidance and expert perspectives on implementing centralized surveillance programs for healthcare-associated infections (HAI) data within health systems, a key step toward more standardized HAI measurement and prevention. It emphasizes improving surveillance accuracy, data use, and patient safety.

VDH: Clinician Letter: Respiratory Illness and Measles Updates for Virginia (1/21/2026)

VDH

Acute Care Hospital

Ambulatory (Outpatient) Care

Department of Health

Outbreak Investigation

Standard Precautions

Vaccination

The clinician letter reports that respiratory illness activity in Virginia has declined but influenza-related hospitalizations remain elevated, and clinicians should continue vaccination, testing, and prompt antiviral treatment for high-risk patients. The letter also warns of ongoing measles cases and exposures in Virginia, urging clinicians to maintain a high index of suspicion, immediately isolate suspected cases, notify public health, and ensure staff and patients have documented MMR immunity.

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.

Bug of the Month

The infection prevention team at Ballad Health continually seeks new and creative ways to educate more than 13,500 team members across 20 hospitals on important infection prevention topics. Supporting this effort is Krista Hess, an infection preventionist at Russell County Hospital in southwest Virginia, who leads the Bug of the Month Committee.

With full creative control, the committee develops a one-page educational flyer each month that is shared by leaders, highlighted during huddles, and featured in internal communication, such as Ballad Health News. Now celebrating its two-year anniversary, Bug of the Month continues to gain momentum. October’s “Say Boo to the Flu” achieved the highest engagement yet.

Over the past two years, the Bug of the Month Committee has spotlighted topics such as C. difficile, Candida auris, hand hygiene, and environmental cleaning. Congratulations to Krista Hess and the entire Ballad Health team for championing innovative approaches that keep team members informed on vital infection prevention topics!