Blogs

President's Message: November 2025

By Faith Ham posted 5 days ago
Dear Colleague, It was great to see many SHEA members at ID Week in Atlanta recently. As we enter the final months of the year and of my role as President, I’m pleased to share several exciting initiatives and collaborations that continue to strengthen SHEA’s role as a leader in infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship. Our society remains deeply committed to advancing science, supporting our members, and promoting global partnerships that enhance healthcare epidemiology across all settings. One of our current priorities is collaborating with colleagues on vaccine efforts especially as they relate to healthcare personnel (HCP) vaccinations. ...

President's Message: October 2025

By Faith Ham posted 10-16-2025
Dear SHEA Colleagues, As we continue our vital work in infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship, I want to reflect on several recent developments that underscore the importance of our mission today more than ever. The recent Senate hearing, Restoring Trust Through Radical Transparency , put the spotlight on how public health guidance can be undermined by political interference. Testimony from CDC leaders and scientific experts painted a stark picture: evidence-based recommendations were sometimes sidelined or distorted. At SHEA, we’ve always stood for the integrity of science. Clear, transparent, and data-driven communication is foundational ...

President's Message: September 2025

By Faith Ham posted 09-15-2025
Dear Colleagues, We’re excited to partner once again with IDSA, PIDS, SIDP and HIVMA at ID Week 2025 next month in Atlanta, Georgia. We’re looking forward to seeing many of you there, as we have a very exciting and robust program focused on infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship along with all the infectious diseases sessions. If you are able to make it to Atlanta, please join SHEA leaders at the SHEA Business Meeting on Monday, October 20, 7:00–8:30 A.M. EST at the Omni Atlanta. Enjoy breakfast with colleagues, celebrate 2025 accomplishments, hear financial and leadership updates, and connect with your SHEA community during ID Week. RSVP today ...

President's Message: Summer 2025

By Faith Ham posted 08-14-2025
Dear SHEA Members, As a nonpartisan organization, we remain steadfast in our mission even as it is tested by shifting public health priorities, funding cuts, and changes in vaccine policy. Navigating these complex dynamics while staying apolitical and responsive to our members' needs guides every SHEA response. At the heart of our advocacy is our deep commitment to infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship (IP/AS) programs. These programs require sustained investment, robust research, and strong support at the federal, state, and local levels. As a former SHEA liaison to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), it has been ...

President's Message: June 2025

By Faith Ham posted 06-16-2025
Dear Colleagues, Several months into my presidency, my appreciation continues to grow for the incredible work happening across SHEA. I’m deeply grateful to our many dedicated volunteers whose efforts—on committees, projects, and policy development—advance our field and drive the meaningful progress we achieve together. A typical week as SHEA President brings the privilege of engaging across many areas of the organization. This includes regular strategy sessions with our Executive Director to assess high-level priorities, brainstorming new initiatives, preparing for Board meetings, reviewing policy documents to ensure alignment with SHEA’s mission, and ...

President's Message: May 2025

By Faith Ham posted 05-15-2025
Dear Colleagues, Thank you to all the SHEA members who joined us at the SHEA Spring 2025 Conference in Orlando! It was fantastic to connect with so many of you. For those who registered for the event, the conference recordings will be accessible through October 27, 2025, for continuing educational credit. I’d like to extend my gratitude to the incredible speakers, moderators, training course chairs, and program committee members who dedicated their time and expertise to creating a successful event. Special thanks to Mike Stevens, MD, MPH Program Committee Chair, and Ibukun Kalu, MD, Program Committee Vice Chair, for their exceptional leadership. Next on the ...

President's Message: April 2025

By Faith Ham posted 04-15-2025
Dear Colleagues, Last month, SHEA hosted virtual meetings on Capitol Hill for our member advocates to talk about funding key federal programs in fiscal year 2026 that address healthcare-associated infections and the spread of antimicrobial resistant infections. This is our third and best year for this event with more meetings held than ever before. SHEA advocates volunteered their time to participate in advocate training and represent SHEA’s policy agenda to their congressional delegations. Our message of investing in prevention and infrastructure, particularly in support of CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) was received well by all of the offices ...

President's Message: March 2025

By Faith Ham posted 03-14-2025
Dear Colleagues, This month, SHEA is hosting a series of virtual meetings on Capitol Hill. This is the fourth year for this event and the largest turnout of SHEA volunteers since its inception. We thank all the advocates attending meetings with congressional staff this year. It is critical to furthering SHEA’s mission. Many of SHEA’s policy agenda items may be at risk of lower funding or termination based on current administrative priorities. Our primary asks include sustaining a modernized National Healthcare Safety Network; inclusion of infection prevention and control, and antibiotic stewardship research at NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious ...

President's Message: February 2025

By Faith Ham posted 02-18-2025
In January, the 2025 SHEA Board of Trustees met in person at SHEA headquarters in Arlington, VA. We took stock of SHEA's achievements this year and greenlit SHEA committees’ workplans for 2025. These plans showcase the extensive array of initiatives led by our dedicated and visionary volunteers who drive progress within these SHEA entities. Even if you're unable to volunteer directly, we urge all members to participate in SHEA events aligned with your interests, engage in discussions on MySHEA, and connect with us via social media. In addition, we also discussed potential opportunities and challenges related to US public policy. SHEA works closely with ...

President's Message: January 2025

By Faith Ham posted 01-15-2025
Dear Colleagues I am delighted to embark on a promising year of collaboration, innovation, and progress within the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) as your SHEA president in 2025. Thank you for the privilege of serving as your President, and for your trust and dedication to our shared mission. As we enter 2025, we are presented with both challenges and opportunities that reinforce the critical importance of healthcare epidemiology, infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship. SHEA members play an essential role in safeguarding public health by analyzing and interpreting epidemiological data, identifying disease transmission ...

White Coats

By Nicolo Andrei A Anonuevo, MAN, RN posted 03-12-2015
Hello Everyone, May I know your practice about wearing white coats in your hospital? There are studies about contamination of white coats right. Thanks Nicolo Andrei A. Añonuevo, MAN, RN Manager - Infection Prevention and Control Asian Hospital and Medical Center 2205 Civic Drive, Filinvest City Alabang, Muntinlupa City, 1780 Philippines Tel. No. 771-9000 loc. 8414 / 8014 Mobile No. +63 939 927 7184 Website: http://www.asianhospital.com Facebook: /AsianHospitalOfficial Twitter: @asianhospital SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands! Privacy and Confidentiality Notice : This ...

Clostridium difficile infection rate method

By Shoshannah Anderson posted 07-16-2014
​What method do you calculate your CDI rates...per 10,000 patient days or using the SIR from NHSN or other?

RE:"VAC" and concurrent infections

By Charles Frenette posted 03-27-2012
See the original Discussion Post

Keeping up with Infection Prevention

By Steven Schweon posted 02-29-2012
By Steven J. Schweon, RN, MPH, MSN, HEM, CIC Infection Prevention Consultant, Board Certified in Infection Control We live in a world of antibiotic-resistant infections, poor hand hygiene / vaccine compliance rates, and environmental hygiene challenges coupled with regulatory mandates to reduce infection and promote patient safety. Resultingly, every healthcare professional has a role in infection prevention. As an Infection Preventionist, my responsibility is to partner with the hospital staff and keep patients, staff, visitors, and volunteers safe from infection. Tenets of infection prevention and control are woven into the fabric of everyday ...

Is it Worth a Shot? Influence Vaccination Efficacy? Reviewed by: Trevor Van Schooneveld, MD, University of Nebraska Medical Center

By Erica deFur Malik posted 02-28-2012
Although vaccination remains the best way to prevent influenza, the pooled efficacy of trivalent inactivated vaccine is approximately 60% while that of live attenuated vaccine is about 80%. The authors of this study highlight the lack of rigorous data supporting influenza vaccination, particularly in those groups most at risk. The authors performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of influenza vaccine efficacy and effectiveness using only studies that used laboratory confirmed influenza as an endpoint (either by PCR or culture). The authors chose these stringent criteria as serologic confirmation of influenza is confounded by vaccine effect and influenza-like ...

January 2012 Letter from SHEA President, Jan Patterson

By Erica deFur Malik posted 01-16-2012
Dear Colleagues, Happy New Year! It is with great pleasure and excitement that I step into the role of SHEA President, and I am thrilled to be working with such an amazing group of volunteers and staff. Thank you for this opportunity to serve the mission and vision of SHEA. For those of you who do not know me, I am currently the Associate Dean for Quality and Lifelong Learning and Director of the Center for Patient Safety and Health Policy at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. In the past 20 years, I have worked in, and promoted research and education in the field of healthcare epidemiology and infection prevention. I have ...

SHEA President's Blog

By Steven Gordon posted 09-08-2011
Dear SHEA Colleagues, Last month, I mentioned the considerable energy SHEA has given to educational programs. I’m pleased to announce that SHEA has launched the online continuing medical education Antimicrobial Stewardship program. Three multidisciplinary programs emphasize practical steps to implement and manage stewardship initiatives and are relevant to all healthcare settings. SHEA also partnered with the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS) to create a session focused on pediatric antimicrobial stewardship. Take a moment to look at this program and share it with your colleagues and others who could benefit. ...