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.

Target Audience: Foundational & Intermediate 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.

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.

VDH Clinician Letter: Measles Outbreak in Buckingham County (5/13/2026)

VDH

Any Practice Setting

Department of Health

Outbreak Investigation

Measles Outbreak in Buckingham County: Outlines key case details, emphasizes prompt public health notification, reminds healthcare workers to watch for measles symptoms to prevent spread, and encourages providers to promote MMR vaccination and check immunization status.

CDC: Core Elements of Hospital Diagnostic Excellence (DxEx) (February 4, 2026)

CDC

Acute Care Hospital

Acute Care Rehabilitation or Long-Term Care Acute Hospital (LTACH)

Assisted Living Facility (ALF)

Department of Health

Hospice and Palliative Care

Nursing Home / Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)

Core Elements of Hospital Diagnostic Excellence (DxEx) (February 4, 2026) The Diagnostic excellence (DxEx) provides guidance to implement actionable strategies within hospitals to enhance diagnostic accuracy through improved diagnostic reasoning, testing methodologies, and communication processes, ultimately elevating patient safety standards. It encourages the implementation of systematic approaches and evidence-based practices for improving diagnostic processes, ultimately aiming to reduce errors and increase patient safety across healthcare settings.

CDC: Clostridioides difficile Infection (CDI) Surveillance (March 19, 2026)

CDC

Any Practice Setting

Department of Health

Surveillance

Clostridioides difficile Infection (CDI) Surveillance (March 19, 2026) The guidance on Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) emphasizes the importance of implementing prevention strategies, including appropriate antibiotic use, enhanced infection control practices, and patient education to reduce the incidence of C. diff infections in healthcare settings. It highlights the role of the Emerging Infections Program (EIP) in monitoring C. diff cases, promoting research on infection trends, and improving response efforts to effectively manage outbreaks and improve patient care.

VDH: Clinician Letter – Updates on Virginia Department of Health Vaccine Recommendations (2/19/2026)

VDH

Department of Health

Pediatric / NICU

Vaccination

Clinician Letter: Updates on Virginia Department of Health Vaccine Recommendations (2/19/2026) The clinician letter reports that Virginia recommends continued use of the American Academy of Pediatrics 2026 immunization schedule despite recent federal changes, emphasizing that current vaccine guidance should remain grounded in established scientific evidence and clinical best practices. The letter also states that there are no changes to Virginia school immunization requirements and urges clinicians to continue offering recommended vaccines and use clinical judgment in shared decision-making with patients and families.

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!