Virginia Infection Prevention & Control Training Alliance (VIPTA)

Upcoming Events


Promo image of 2026 Infection Prevention Educator Roadshow

Ready, Set, Educate! Infection Prevention Educator Roadshow 2026

Infection prevention education keeps healthcare staff on their toes. From emerging diseases to new multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) challenges and changing guidance, training needs can shift fast. The 2026 Infection Prevention Educator Roadshow is here to help you stay ready with hands-on tools, fresh ideas, and practical strategies built for today’s ever-changing healthcare environment. 

More About the Roadshow 

  • Leave with practical educator supplies, resources, and fresh ideas to strengthen your training toolkit 
  • Connect with fellow infection preventionists, designated infection control officers, and health educators from across Virginia 
  • Explore real-world strategies that make infection prevention education more interactive, memorable, and effective  
  • Gain confidence teaching in fast-changing healthcare environments where flexibility matters more than ever 

For questions about this training resource, contact hai@vdh.virginia.gov. 


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...


Image of 2026 APIC National Conference Presenters, including Carolyn Kiefer, Ginger Vanhoozer, Dana Chapman, Mai Jatta

Virginia APIC Members Share Their Work at the APIC National Conference!

The 2026 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) National Conference was held June 15–17 in Nashville, TN, offering infection preventionists a valuable opportunity to learn, collaborate, and showcase their work. With about 400 submissions received, selection to present is a notable achievement. This year, several APIC Virginia Chapter members were featured.

Congratulations to the following presenters!

⭐Dana Chapman (Sentara Leigh Hospital) and Ginger Vanhoozer (VDH) presented “Reciprocal Mentorship That Fits: Education-Rich, Time-Smart, and Built for Collaboration”, discussing APIC Virginia & VDH’s novel mentorship program.

⭐Mai Jatta (Carilion Clinic) discussed Carilion’s systemwide approach to implementing a water and steam testing program in alignment with ANSI/AAMI ST108 in “Systemwide Implementation of Water and Steam Quality for Medical Device Reprocessing”.

⭐Carolyn Kiefer and Andrea Chapman (VDH) presented “From Airways to Outbreaks: A State’s Journey Strengthening Respiratory Care Assessments”. They discussed the importance of incorporating respiratory care assessments into outbreak investigations with pathogens such as Candida auris, Group A Streptococcus, and other multidrug-resistant organisms, and how to implement them in the field.

⭐Krysta Luzynski (VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital) discussed “Public Health in Practice: Leveraging Public Health 3.0 to Strengthen Infection Prevention in a Small, Rural Hospital”. This presentation focused on using the Public Health 3.0 framework to strengthen infection prevention programs, and how a “chief health strategist” role can facilitate collaboration and empower teams.

⭐Samuel Ntow (Carilion Clinic) presented “Hospital-Onset Sepsis: Characterizing a Hitherto Underrecognized HAI Burden Using Five Years of Surveillance Data at an Academic Medical Center” which discussed the underreporting of hospital onset sepsis in an academic medical center. He found that the rates exceeded several currently tracked HAI categories in his facility.

Tools & Tips to Share Your Work


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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