 oocysts under magnification, stained bright red. cyclosporiasis outbreak, foodborne parasites, intestinal infections. water pollution.

As public health officials continue to investigate one of the largest documented 

 outbreaks in the US, Roche has expanded its molecular testing portfolio with 2 new real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, providing laboratories with additional options for detecting the foodborne parasite.

The announcement comes as thousands of cyclospora infections have been reported across multiple states, underscoring the growing need for rapid laboratory identification and surveillance. Although the new assays are designated for research use only (RUO) and are not intended for diagnostic use, they provide laboratories with additional tools to study the parasite and support outbreak investigations.

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite transmitted through contaminated food or water that can cause prolonged gastrointestinal illness. Symptoms often include severe watery diarrhea, abdominal cramping, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. While illness is typically self-limited in healthy individuals, severe dehydration and prolonged disease can lead to hospitalization, particularly among older adults and immunocompromised patients.

"Understanding disease outbreaks and how they spread can have a huge impact on public health," said Dan Malarek, president and CEO of Roche Diagnostics North America. "Our robust testing infrastructure and strong scientific partnerships enable us to provide solutions that help labs rapidly respond to evolving public health needs."

The expanded portfolio includes the LightMix Modular Cyclospora assay, which specifically detects 

, and the LightMix OneTube Gastro Para 2 assay, a multiplex PCR panel that detects 6 gastrointestinal parasites, including 

The assays are designed for Roche's LightCycler 480 and LightCycler PRO platforms and complement the company's existing UC-TIB-Gastro-PARA-2 assay, which operates on the cobas 5800, 6800, and 8800 systems for high-throughput research applications.

According to Marcus Droege, CEO of TIB MOLBIOL, the expanded portfolio provides laboratories with flexibility in choosing testing strategies.

"The cyclospora portfolio provides the option of panel size and platform type and the economics of 1, 3, or 6 targets, offering flexible and cost-effective tests," Droege said.

Although the assays are not approved for routine clinical diagnosis, infection preventionists may recognize their potential value during outbreak investigations and epidemiologic research.

Rapid molecular detection can help researchers better understand transmission patterns, identify contaminated food sources, and evaluate how outbreaks spread across geographic regions. During large multistate outbreaks, timely laboratory data also support collaboration between clinical laboratories, public health agencies, and food safety investigators.

For infection prevention and public health professionals, the announcement also reflects a broader trend toward expanding molecular surveillance capabilities for emerging infectious diseases.

Roche noted that its infectious disease portfolio already includes testing for HIV, hepatitis viruses, sexually transmitted infections, influenza, tuberculosis, dengue, malaria, and congenital infections. The company also highlighted its recent development of a research-use PCR assay for the Ebola Bundibugyo virus, which can be run within 6 days to support response efforts in Central and East Africa.

As foodborne outbreaks continue to challenge public health systems, flexible molecular testing platforms may become increasingly important for understanding pathogen transmission and supporting coordinated outbreak response.

While the new cyclospora assays remain research tools rather than diagnostic tests, they represent another example of how molecular technologies continue to evolve alongside modern infectious disease surveillance.

Articles

Roche has introduced 2 new research-use PCR assays for Cyclospora cayetanensis, expanding laboratory testing options as public health officials continue to respond to one of the largest Cyclospora outbreaks in US history.

Roche Expands Cyclospora PCR Testing Portfolio to Support Ongoing US Outbreak Response

Tori Whitacre Martonicz, MA, is the lead editor of 

.  She has been a writer and editor for over 30 years and has an MA and BA in English Composition/Literature from the University of Akron in Akron, OH. She lives in Ohio with her husband, Eric; son, Drake; 2 tiny dogs, Selena Brigid Sophia and Doctor Danger Dog; and a big black cat, Freya. She loves reading, writing, gardening, and spending time with her loved ones. 

Contact her through her email: tmartonicz@mjhlifesciences.com.

A new Infection Control Today roundtable, produced in collaboration with Diagnostic Imaging®, brings together infection preventionists, perioperative leaders, and environmental hygiene experts to discuss a topic that has received little attention despite its potential impact on patient and staff safety.

“We Have to Do Better”: Infection Prevention Experts Warn Lead Aprons May Be an Overlooked Source of Pathogen Transmission

Preventing surgical site infections (SSIs) requires more than following sterile technique. It also depends on identifying overlooked risks that can introduce contamination into the operating room. During a recent panel discussion hosted by 

, infection preventionists (IPs), perioperative leaders, and industry experts agreed that contaminated lead aprons and thyroid collars deserve far greater attention. Their message was clear: solving the problem requires collaboration, not finger-pointing.

Brenna Doran, PhD, MA, ACC, CIC, AL-CIP, an IP, explained that the issue first came to light through the strong relationship her team had built with the operating room staff.

"We identified our lead because of the relationship that we had cultivated with our [operating room (OR)] team," Doran said. "There wasn't enough space to hang the lead, and the lead was on the ground. So how do we solve this opportunity?"

Rather than approaching the problem from a adherence standpoint alone, Doran emphasized the importance of understanding operational realities.

"IPs look at their roles as the opportunity to blend best practices with reality," she said. "We need your operational expertise. We need to understand your barriers and limiting factors in order to co-create solutions. My expertise is meaningless without your input."

Justin McKay, cofounder of RadCare Services, echoed that philosophy, describing his role as a partner rather than someone dictating policy.

"I'm in your corner," McKay said. "You're driving the motorcycle. I'm riding in the sidecar."

Over the past decade, he explained, the conversation has evolved beyond simply cleaning lead garments.

"We've evolved into a true management partner," McKay said. "We'll talk about storage racks, proper storage, scheduled deep cleaning, inspections between cleanings, and garment fit. People best support what they help to create, so present options and let teams build the process together."

Peter Graves, BSN, RN, CNOR, an operating room leader, admitted that lead apron management is often overshadowed by countless competing priorities but believes it deserves a much higher profile.

"If it's not on your radar, it should be," Graves said. "We have to do better."

He encouraged perioperative leaders to treat lead garments like any other piece of protective equipment.

"Make sure your staff is cleaning. Make sure your staff is inspecting. Make sure your lead is hung up correctly," Graves said. "Everything is supposed to be clean, and if it's not, we have to do better."

Looking ahead, Doran challenged the infection prevention community to generate stronger scientific evidence linking contaminated lead garments to healthcare-associated infections.

"I would really love somebody to do cultures and PCR and see if we can make an epidemiologic link between some of our [methicillin-resistant 

 surgical site infections and lead aprons," she said.

She also called for a practical playbook that infection preventionists could adapt within their own facilities.

"It's so much easier to do something that someone else has done successfully than it is to create the wheel on our own," Doran said.

Panelists agreed that any future guidance should extend beyond the operating room. Graves recommended involving radiology, interventional radiology, emergency departments, and other procedural areas to develop standardized protocols across the health system.

For McKay, the discussion reinforced the importance of relationships.

"Relationships are everything," he said. "There are resources. There are data. We can work together collaboratively to drive change and do no harm."

The panel concluded that improving lead apron management is less about assigning responsibility than creating partnerships. By bringing together infection preventionists, perioperative teams, radiology, sterile processing, and hospital leadership, health care organizations can develop sustainable programs that reduce contamination risks and strengthen patient safety.

Videos

Reusable lead aprons and thyroid collars are used daily throughout hospitals, but often fall outside standardized cleaning protocols. Infection prevention and perioperative experts discuss contamination risks, ATP testing, operational barriers, and the need for multidisciplinary collaboration to strengthen environmental hygiene and reduce the risk of HAIs.

Lead Apron Safety Requires Collaboration Across Infection Prevention, OR, and Radiology Teams

Health care-associated infections (HAIs) remain one of health care's most persistent challenges. Although infection prevention teams have significantly reduced many device-associated infections over the past decade, outbreaks that span multiple units or originate from environmental reservoirs can remain undetected until they have already spread.

New York-based startup Claryx is aiming to change that.

The company officially emerged from stealth this week after announcing $3.5 million in preseed funding led by Outlander VC and introducing its genomic intelligence platform designed to help hospitals identify transmission events earlier and trace infections back to their likely source.

Rather than relying solely on traditional surveillance methods that identify outbreaks after case counts increase, Claryx analyzes the genomes of confirmed patient infections and compares them with 

genomic data collected from a hospital's environment, including air, water, and surfaces.

 The goal is to help infection prevention teams recognize transmission chains before they become large outbreaks.

The company describes the approach as "building the hospital immune system," allowing infection preventionists to identify where transmission is occurring and intervene sooner.

The need remains substantial. According to the 

, contributing to an estimated 518,000 HAIs and 

. These infections also carry an estimated annual economic burden of $28 billion to $45 billion.

One challenge, according to Claryx, is that conventional surveillance often detects outbreaks only after infection counts exceed expected baselines within individual units. Smaller transmission chains spread across multiple wards may never trigger those alerts, allowing outbreaks to continue unnoticed.

 builds on findings from an independent, peer-reviewed study, Real-Time Genomic Surveillance for Enhanced Healthcare Outbreak Detection and Control: Clinical and Economic Impact, led by 

, conducted at UPMC Presbyterian and published in 

. During 2 years of real-time genomic surveillance, investigators identified 172 outbreaks that traditional surveillance had missed, involving 476 patients. Researchers identified transmission routes in 114 outbreaks, and 96% showed no further transmission after intervention. The study estimated that 62 infections and nearly 5 deaths were prevented while generating a 3.2-fold return on investment.

For more information on genomics, check out these articles:

Outbreak Detection, Patient Protection: The Legal Upside of Genomics in Infection Prevention

SHEA 2026: Alexander Sundermann, DrPH, Explains How Whole Genome Sequencing Reveals Hidden HAI Transmission and Ethical Challenges in Patient Notification

Genomic Surveillance: A New Frontier in Health Care Outbreak Detection

 that its platform can process PCR results in approximately 6 hours and genomic sequencing in 72 hours, while continuously monitoring clinical isolates alongside environmental sampling. The system is designed to detect numerous bacterial, viral, fungal, and antimicrobial resistance targets while using clinical isolates that would otherwise be discarded after routine laboratory testing, avoiding the collection of additional patient specimens.

The company was founded in 2025 by brothers Kurt and Dirk Hackenberger after a personal family experience with a health care-associated infection. Their grandmother developed a severe infection following what had been expected to be a routine hospital procedure, an event that ultimately inspired the company's mission to better understand where infections originate.

"We believe preventable infections are a solvable problem," said Kurt Hackenberger, cofounder and CEO of Claryx. "Today, we can tell a hospital where an infection came from. We're building toward a future where it never had to happen in the first place."

For infection prevention professionals, technologies that combine genomic sequencing with environmental surveillance represent a growing area of interest as hospitals continue to explore ways to move from reactive outbreak investigations to earlier detection and targeted intervention. While widespread adoption will ultimately depend on operational feasibility, cost, and real-world performance across diverse health systems, advances in genomic surveillance may offer additional tools to support existing infection prevention programs rather than replace them.

Claryx has emerged from stealth with funding and a genomic surveillance platform designed to help hospitals identify hidden transmission chains, trace infection sources, and intervene before outbreaks grow.

How Claryx Uses Genomics to Help Infection Prevention Teams Find Outbreaks Faster 

Sina Bavari is the executive vice president of infectious disease research and development at Tonix Pharmaceuticals. He is responsible for leading the development of Tonix’s infectious disease pipeline and serves as a key member of the Company’s executive leadership team. Bavari is based in Frederick, Maryland, and, as part of his role, oversees scientific development at Tonix’s Infectious Disease R&D Center (RDC) located there.

Bavari has a record of achievement utilizing new and complex technologies and in guiding programs through clinical decision points into advanced development. He has approximately 30 patents, has published over 300 peer-reviewed manuscripts, and has contributed to over 40 vaccine and therapeutic development candidates, as well as numerous Investigational New Drug candidate filings.

Most recently, he served as chief scientific officer/scientific director at the US Army Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) and has held numerous leadership roles at USAMRIID, including chief, Molecular and Translational Sciences Division and Therapeutic Discovery Center; chief, Target Discovery & Experimental Microbiology, Integrated Toxicology Division; and chief, Immunology, Target Identification, and Translational Research, Bacteriology Division.

Bavari earned his PhD in immunotoxicology and pharmaceutical science at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, and his MS in nuclear physics and nuclear pharmacy at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

Mpox virus, a contagious pathogen, close-up

Although mpox no longer dominates headlines as it did during the 2022 global outbreak, the virus continues to circulate, new clades continue to emerge, and public health experts warn that preparedness remains essential. Current vaccines have helped reduce disease burden, but questions remain about the durability of protection, the need for booster doses, and how best to respond to future outbreaks caused by evolving orthopoxviruses. At the same time, researchers are developing next-generation vaccine candidates designed to provide broader, longer-lasting immunity while addressing limitations of existing options.

, Sina Bavari, PhD, executive vice president of infectious disease research and development at Tonix Pharmaceuticals, discusses 

 supporting the investigational vaccine TNX-801, the importance of improved animal models for understanding mpox virulence, lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, and why infection preventionists should continue to view mpox preparedness as an important component of long-term infectious disease planning.

: Your study provides new evidence supporting TNX-801 as a potential mpox vaccine. What are the most significant findings from the Journal of Virology paper, and how do they advance our understanding of protection against mpox?

 is that the new animal models identified can help open the door for investigators to better understand mpox infection, pathogenesis, and differences in virulence across mpox clades. The study found that the clade IIb isolate associated with the 2022 outbreak was approximately 100- to 100,000-fold less virulent than clade IIa isolates in multiple murine models.

For Tonix, these findings are important because they help address a major gap in mpox research: the need for better tools to rapidly characterize emerging mpox subclades and evaluate potential medical countermeasures, including vaccines. Mpox continues to evolve as a serious health challenge, and the ability to understand how different subclades behave is essential to developing vaccines that may support preparedness against both current and future outbreaks.

This work reflects Tonix's commitment to addressing serious health challenges that remain underserved despite their significant burden on patients, families, and society. The findings support Tonix's efforts to advance innovative approaches to disease prevention and infectious disease research, where unmet needs remain significant. TNX-801 reflects part of that commitment within Tonix's infectious disease portfolio.

TNX-801 is being developed as a live, attenuated, minimally replicative horsepox-based investigational vaccine candidate for the prevention of mpox and smallpox. TNX-801 is an investigational one-dose orthopoxvirus vaccine candidate that has produced innate, humoral, and T-cell immune responses in non-human primate studies and may have the potential to reduce forward transmission after viral challenge.

: Recent research has raised questions about whether immunity from current mpox vaccines may wane over time. How does TNX-801 differ from currently available vaccines, and what advantages do you believe it could offer for long-term protection?

 This is an important consideration in the development of any new mpox/smallpox vaccine. The first-generation vaccines developed by Edward Jenner generated durable immunity that often lasted a person’s whole lifetime. The next generation of vaccines were descendants of Jenner’s vaccine but were faster-growing and had challenging tolerability and safety profiles. These were used during the global accelerated smallpox eradication. 

In preclinical studies, TNX-801 has demonstrated durable immunity in all animals for at least 14 months following a single vaccination and has protected against both lesion development and lethal disease. These and other findings lead us to believe we have recreated a vaccine similar to Edward Jenner’s original. Tonix believes that TNX-801 vaccination could offer a significant advantage by generating robust, durable immunity against mpox and smallpox and with improved tolerability relative to the vaccines used in the eradication project.

: From an infection prevention perspective, what role could a next-generation mpox vaccine play in preparedness for future outbreaks, particularly in health care settings where rapid containment is essential?

 This is an excellent question that requires some context. Mpox was first identified as a human pathogen in 1970, when the first confirmed human case of mpox was reported in an unvaccinated young boy in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). In the decades following its discovery, the monkeypox [now mpox] virus was classified into 2 genetic clades: clade I (Central African or Congo Basin) and clade II (West African), based on phylogenetic analyses, geographic distribution, and the severity of human disease. Between 1970 and 2020, sporadic outbreaks resulted in approximately 30,000 confirmed or suspected human cases. Clade I caused almost all reported cases during this period, whereas only a few hundred cases were attributed to clade II.

Many factors caused the 2022 global mpox outbreak. The end of routine smallpox vaccination in the mid-1970s built an immunologically naïve population susceptible to infection with closely related orthopoxviruses. In 2022, mpox emerged to cause the first global mpox outbreak. 

Unlike previous outbreaks, however, most human infections were caused by the newly identified clade IIb lineage. Most human-to-human transmission occurred through sexual contact, a route previously not recognized for mpox transmission. 

Additional outbreaks in Central Africa were associated with the emergence of another newly recognized clade Ib lineage. As a result, the monkeypox virus is now classified into 4 clades/subclades (Ia, Ib, IIa, and IIb), which vary in transmissibility, geographic distribution, virulence, and fatality rates. Since 2022, the outbreak IIb has spread quickly to 145 countries, causing more than 187,000 reported human cases. 

Since 2024, the outbreak caused by clade Ib has had a more limited spread, but it is considerably more virulent and dangerous. The relatively indolent syndrome associated with IIb is probably responsible for why it spread so quickly and is now an established endemic in the U.S.

This background highlights how rapidly new mpox subclades can emerge and spread through previously unrecognized transmission routes in immunologically naïve populations, resulting in global outbreaks. The coordinated deployment of next-generation vaccines is critical to prevent and contain future mpox outbreaks.

: Tonix has described TNX-801 as part of a broader infectious disease strategy. How does this vaccine fit into the company's overall biodefense and emerging infectious disease portfolio, and what lessons from COVID-19 and the recent mpox outbreaks influenced its development?

 TNX-801 fits within Tonix's broader strategy of addressing serious health challenges where patients' needs are not adequately addressed by current treatment options. Tonix is a fully integrated, commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to delivering differentiated medicines that improve the lives of people living with chronic and debilitating diseases with significant unmet medical needs, while advancing a purposefully curated pipeline spanning central nervous system disorders, infectious diseases, immunology conditions, and rare diseases.

Within Tonix’s infectious disease portfolio, TNX-801 platform represents Tonix’s vaccine-based approach to biodefense and emerging infectious disease preparedness. We are developing the program to address orthopoxvirus threats, including mpox and smallpox. TNX-801 is a live, minimally replicating, recombinant orthopoxvirus vaccine candidate based on horsepox.

Tonix’s infectious disease portfolio also includes TNX-4800, a long-acting, human monoclonal antibody for Lyme disease prevention in the US, and TNX-4200, a broad-spectrum antiviral program being developed under a US Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) contract for up to $34 million over 5 years. These programs reflect Tonix’s deliberate approach to investing in disease prevention, infectious disease, and vaccine technologies where meaningful innovation could potentially address substantial unmet needs.

Tonix's curated portfolio is united by the same disciplined framework that drives all our drug development efforts: identify meaningful unmet need, follow the science, and pursue opportunities where the potential benefit to patients is significant.

: The public often assumes mpox is no longer a significant concern, yet outbreaks continue to occur globally. How would you characterize the current state of mpox preparedness, and where do you see the greatest remaining vulnerabilities?

 Since the 2022 outbreak, mpox transmission has continued in the United States, with approximately 38,000 reported cases to date. Although cases declined after the initial 2022 surge, sustained transmission has resulted in approximately 1,700 to 2,800 cases annually. In 2026, 677 cases have been reported to date, demonstrating the continued need for effective mpox prevention strategies.

Outside the US, both clade IIb and Ib continue to spread. Clade Ib remains a significant cause of epidemics in Central Africa. A recent outbreak in Madagascar teaches us we are far from done with clade ib.

Currently, there are 2 vaccines approved in the United States for the prevention of smallpox and mpox: ACAM-2000 and JYNNEOS. ACAM-2000 is a live vaccinia virus vaccine derived from Dryvax, one of the vaccine strains used to eradicate smallpox. A single ACAM-2000 vaccination administered by scarification can induce durable immunity. 

However, similar to its parental vaccine, it is associated with the risk of serious adverse events, including pericarditis, myocarditis, and encephalitis. In contrast, JYNNEOS has a better safety profile but requires a two-dose regimen administered 4 weeks apart to achieve optimal immune responses and may not provide durable immunity or block forward transmission.

There are several disadvantages to both vaccines. The administration of the ACM-2000 vaccine will leave a scar at the vaccination site. In addition, safety concerns include inflammation in or around the heart. The administration of the 2-dose JYNNEOS vaccine yields immunity that can wane considerably within 6 to 12 months. Consequently, following mpox infection causes milder illness with fewer lesions and lower hospitalization rates have been reported in breakthrough cases. There is a critical need to develop vaccines capable of inducing durable immunity via a single vaccination with minimal adverse events.

Tonix believes that our next-generation vaccine, TNX-801, has the potential to address this unmet need. In preclinical studies, TNX-801 has demonstrated a superior safety profile compared with older-generation vaccines while eliciting durable immunity that provided protection for at least 14 months following a single vaccination.

: Can you walk us through the next steps in TNX-801's development? What milestones should clinicians, infection preventionists, and public health professionals be watching for over the next year?

 Tonix expects to advance TNX-801 into a phase 1 clinical study in 2027 for the prevention of mpox and smallpox, pending FDA clearance of an Investigational New Drug application.

Over the next year, clinicians, infection preventionists, and public health professionals should watch for updates on TNX-801’s entry into the clinic and further characterization of TNX-801’s safety, immunogenicity, durability, and potential protection across relevant mpox clades. Preclinical findings show single-dose protection, neutralizing antibody responses, protection against clinical disease and mortality following mpox challenge in animal models, with durability observed for at least 14 months post-vaccination.

: Looking ahead, what do you think infection preventionists should take away from this research? How might these findings influence long-term vaccination strategies, outbreak preparedness, and infection control planning if TNX-801 ultimately reaches clinical use?

 Over the past 30 years, the incidence of emerging infectious diseases has increased substantially. Driven by human activity and the dramatic growth in global travel, diseases once confined to specific geographic regions have spread worldwide, including mpox. The international public remains vulnerable to emerging infectious disease threats.

Many high-consequence pathogens remain neglected, with critical gaps in our understanding of their biology hindering the rapid development of effective countermeasures. Consequently, fundamental questions are often addressed only after an outbreak has emerged, significantly delaying the development and deployment of urgently needed interventions.

In response to the mpox outbreak, Tonix Pharmaceuticals rapidly established and characterized mpox disease models to address critical scientific gaps and has leveraged these models to work towards phase I clinical studies.

Sina Bavari, PhD, discusses promising preclinical findings for the investigational TNX-801 vaccine, emerging mpox variants, durable immunity, and why infection preventionists should continue preparing for future outbreaks.

Next-Generation Mpox Vaccine Shows Promise for Durable Protection and Future Outbreak Preparedness

Shannon Simmons, DHSc, MPH, AL-CIP, CIC, CPH, MLS(ASCP)

, is the program manager for ambulatory infection prevention and control for CHRISTUS Health in Irving, TX, and a member of the 

She began her career in clinical microbiology and now has over 7 years of experience in infection prevention. Simmons is passionate about advancing the science of infection prevention and elevating IPs as advocates, leaders, and experts.

After devoting ten years of my life as an infection preventionist (IP), I can admit I found myself exhibiting signs of burnout: chronic physical and emotional exhaustion, detachment from work, and a reduced perception of my own competence. My burnout had grown so severe that I started to think it was time for a career change. How could this be so? I have put so much time, effort, and resources into my career, and at the end of even on my worst days professionally, I still love knowing the impact I have in providing safe, high-quality patient care. Unwilling to divorce my love of infection prevention, I became determined to actively combat what I came to accept as pure burnout. Could mentorship be the answer? 

Looking at the landscape of infection prevention, I estimated that many IPs have 2 to 5 years of experience, while a significant percentage may have less than 1 year of experience. As an IP with over 10 years of experience, I knew that I had, at the very least, several years of personal anecdotes to supplement the information in many published references. Making myself available to mentor IPs of all experience levels reinvigorated my zeal for infection prevention.

Mentoring paraprofessionals, those exploring the field and hoping to enter the field, reminds me of why I found interest in infection prevention and the choices I made early in my career that enhanced my success. Mentoring novice IPs keeps my IP skillset keen. Novice IPs typically have specific questions about surveillance and effective implementation strategies. They typically need the opportunity to talk through the “Did I do this right?” question. Mentoring proficient and even expert-level IPs allows me to offer support and recommendations towards professional stewardship, such as chairing local, state, and national committees, obtaining additional certifications, or writing for professional publications.

Even with over 10 years of experience, I have realized I, too, still need mentorship. Yes, even the mentor can be a mentee. I use the term “mentee” to refer to the “learner” in mentoring relationships, regardless of age or position. My mentors, at this time in my career, provide a safe space to discuss challenges; they offer guidance to help me navigate difficult workplace or life situations, and they have enhanced my sense of connection and community.

Mentoring does not have to be an organized program with set meetings and action items; a simple interaction with someone you can help or from whom you can receive guidance is still mentorship. Mentoring helped me identify and address the causes of my burnout by offering fresh, diverse perspectives. What do a 10-plus-year-old car, home, and career all have in common? They may all be nearing the end of their major components’ life cycles, but with proper maintenance, management, and upgrades, each can flourish for many years to come. Burnout is a condition that does not resolve on its own. Mentorship is helping me maintain a sense of purpose, manage my expectations, and has ultimately upgraded my mindset toward my role as an IP; it feels like magic. 

After experiencing severe professional burnout, an infection preventionist found renewed purpose by mentoring others, seeking mentorship herself, and rebuilding connection, confidence, and commitment to her career.

Burnout to Balance: How Mentorship Helped One Infection Preventionist Reclaim Her Purpose 

Experts urge hospitals to rethink lead garment ownership, strengthen cleaning and documentation, investigate contaminated aprons during HAI clusters, and build closer partnerships between perioperative and infection prevention teams.

Could Outsourcing Lead Apron Management Improve Infection Prevention? 

Reusable lead aprons and thyroid collars have long been treated as necessary equipment that hospitals must purchase, store, inspect, repair, and clean. During a recent 

) roundtable, produced in collaboration with 

), infection prevention and perioperative experts questioned whether that traditional ownership model still makes sense.

Peter Graves, BSN, RN, CNOR, said the evidence surrounding contamination on lead garments creates a clear responsibility for hospitals to act.

“There’s a boatload of studies out there that talk about this,” Graves said, pointing to research identifying bacterial contamination on lead aprons used in operating rooms. “If you’re armed with that knowledge, and you have documentation that shows that we’ve known about this for years and years, it’s indefensible at that point.”

For Graves, the issue comes down to the fundamental patient safety principle of doing no harm.

“We want to make sure that we give that patient the best opportunity,” he said. “Yes, there’s a problem. I don’t think anybody would say that there’s not.”

He emphasized that lead garment hygiene must become a team priority, including for clinicians who personally own their equipment.

“I don’t care how good they are,” Graves said. “They can cause infections just like a junior surgeon can. So again, make this personal, make it a priority, make it a team event.”

Justin McKay, cofounder of RadCare Services, proposed a more radical solution: hospitals may not need to own lead garments at all.

“Why do hospitals want to own and manage lead garments?” McKay asked. “Why do they want that liability on their hands?”

He compared the concept with linen and scrub rental programs, in which outside vendors supply clean products, remove used items, and replace damaged or improperly fitting equipment. Under a similar model, hospitals could exchange garments when staffing needs or sizes change rather than purchasing another set.

“Half of it doesn’t fit. Half of it you don’t use. Someone’s left, and you still have it,” McKay said. “You’re passing it around. No one cleans it. It doesn’t get repaired. You don’t know what to do with it. It’s a hassle.”

Panelists acknowledged that changing this model would require more than demonstrating cost savings. Brenna Doran, PhD, MA, ACC, CIC, AL-CIP, noted that clinicians may interpret standardization as another loss of personal choice.

“These kinds of cultural shifts take time,” Doran said. “From a provider’s perspective, they might be thinking, ‘This is just one more thing that I have to give up in order for you to save a dollar.’”

She said leaders must communicate the safety and operational value of any new program without making clinicians feel that something is simply being taken away.

The panel also called for more research connecting contaminated lead garments with specific health care-associated infections. Graves suggested that hospitals experiencing clusters of infections, such as 

 following total joint procedures, consider culturing the lead garments used in those rooms.

“See if you can trace it,” he said. “Because the lead is in another closet somewhere, we don’t look at it. We don’t see it. Out of sight, out of mind, so therefore it’s not a problem. But we need to do that full 360.”

Until regulations become more prescriptive, Graves recommended cleaning garments after use, documenting that work, including lead aprons in routine rounds, and establishing close partnerships between infection prevention and perioperative teams.

“If you’re not partnering closely with your OR and IP people, that’s a problem,” he said. “Get out of your office. Get together. Have coffee. Round. Work together on a daily or weekly basis.”

Could Outsourcing Lead Garment Management Improve Infection Prevention?

A Shift in Federal Policy: Modern microscope station in research facility

The Trump administration's new policy ending federally funded "dangerous gain-of-function" (DGOF) research is raising concerns among infectious disease and biosafety experts, who argue that the restrictions could weaken the nation's ability to prepare for future outbreaks despite the administration's goal of strengthening biosecurity.

The United States Government Policy for Stopping High-Risk Life Sciences Research

, scheduled to take effect in mid-November 2026, ends federal support for research the government classifies as gain-of-function and establishes new oversight requirements for certain international scientific collaborations. While the administration says the policy is intended to reduce biosafety and national security risks, several experts warn that limiting carefully regulated research may create unintended public health consequences.

"Infection prevention and control inherently prioritizes prevention," Shahbaz Salehi, MD, MPH, MSHIA, director of infection prevention and control and employee health for Foothill Regional Medical Center in Tustin, California. "While establishing strict safeguards around high-risk research is necessary, completely ending funding for gain-of-function studies undermines our primary defense. To prevent infectious threats before we are forced to control them, we must continue safely researching the very pathogens that pose the greatest risk to the community."

His comments reflect a broader concern that preventing high-risk research altogether differs significantly from strengthening oversight of that research.

Similarly, Brenna Doran, PhD, MA, ACC, CIC, AL-CIP, consultant/coach for Innovative Partners Institute in San Francisco, California, questioned whether additional layers of oversight address a demonstrated gap in existing biosafety systems. "Biosecurity demands flexible research, not just rules. Existing safeguards already support safe science. Before establishing another oversight committee, we need to know what specific gap it fills, and who chooses who sits at the table."

Gain-of-function research involves modifying infectious agents or toxins to better understand characteristics such as transmissibility, virulence, or host range. Scientists have long argued that these studies improve understanding of pathogen evolution, guide vaccine development, and help researchers prepare for future infectious disease threats.

 directing federal agencies to strengthen oversight of high-risk biological research. According to the policy, life sciences research remains essential for biotechnology, agriculture, public health, and national preparedness. However, the administration concluded that certain studies present risks that outweigh their scientific benefits.

"Life sciences research is necessary to ensure the United States maintains global leadership in biotechnology, biosecurity, and health and agricultural research, as well as readiness against biological threats," the policy states. "However, there are clear cases in which the potential benefits of life sciences research do not outweigh the potential risks, and such research should not be undertaken domestically or abroad in any circumstance."

Under the policy, federally funded research determined to have dangerous gain-of-function potential will undergo review by a newly established federal oversight board before funding decisions are made.

Principal investigators will also assume expanded responsibilities, including continuously evaluating whether their research falls within the categories of dangerous gain-of-function or international research of concern. Researchers must disclose key personnel, institutional affiliations, foreign collaborators, and research activities conducted outside the United States.

"The decision to end federally funded high-risk gain-of-function research reflects an emphasis on reducing potential biosafety and biosecurity risks while maintaining support for scientific research," said Vangie Dennis, MSN, RN, CNOR, CMLSO, FAORN, FAAN, MSN, RN, CNOR, CMLSO, FAORN, FAAN, CEO of and perioperative consultant for Perioperative Consultants, LLC, in Anderson, South Carolina."The policy highlights the importance of careful oversight, transparency, and responsible research practices as policymakers continue to balance scientific advancement with public safety and national security."

Although the administration emphasized that vaccine development, therapeutics, diagnostics, and international collaboration remain permissible, many scientists worry the policy's broad language could discourage important research beyond the specific studies targeted.

Scientists Warn of Unintended Consequences

The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) expressed similar concerns following the announcement.

In a statement, ASM said the policy "broadly defines several categories of research that, if shut down, will impede our ability as a nation to address infectious disease threats and respond to future outbreaks."

Allen Segal, JD, ASM's chief strategy officer, echoed those concerns while emphasizing that the focus should remain on strengthening biosafety rather than restricting research.

"We should be investing in facilities and training to ensure that it is being done safely, rather than taking the risk of prohibiting research to detect, prevent, and treat illness," 

While the current policy applies only to federally funded research, the administration signaled that broader regulation may follow.

The policy directs an interagency working group to evaluate "additional regulatory, legislative or other actions" to manage dangerous gain-of-function research, including privately funded studies.

For infection preventionists, the debate extends beyond research laboratories. Understanding how pathogens evolve, identifying future pandemic threats, and developing vaccines and countermeasures all rely on continued scientific investigation conducted under rigorous biosafety standards.

As Salehi emphasized, prevention begins long before an outbreak reaches the bedside. "To prevent infectious threats before we are forced to control them, we must continue safely researching the very pathogens that pose the greatest risk to the community."

For many experts, the central question is no longer whether high-risk pathogen research requires oversight. Instead, the debate has shifted to whether limiting that research could leave healthcare systems less prepared for the next emerging infectious disease.

Federal officials say new gain-of-function restrictions will improve biosecurity, but infectious disease experts warn limiting carefully regulated research could weaken preparedness for future outbreaks and emerging public health threats.

Can We Prepare for the Next Pandemic Without Studying Dangerous Pathogens? Experts Question New Gain-of-Function Policy

, CIC, FAPIC, is an infection prevention (IP) contractor in Western North Carolina. He trained in medical technology and transitioned to IP in 2008. Most of his experience is in acute care hospitals and ambulatory clinics. He is certified in infection control and is a fellow of APIC.

Teacher with a spray bottle, gloves, and a rag, wiping, cleaning, and disinfecting school desks.

As students return to school from summer break, educators, administrators, and support staff ensure the learning environment is safe from infectious disease outbreaks. From kindergarten classrooms filled with tactile exploration to the close social interaction in high schools, where students share devices and meals during and after school, each grade presents its own opportunities. The following evidence‑based practices offer a strong foundation for actionable prevention.

Consistent, proper handwashing remains the most effective strategy for reducing gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses in school settings. The CDC emphasizes teaching and reinforcing washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, building hygiene reminders directly into daily routines such as after bathroom breaks, before lunch, and after recess.

 Younger students and those with special needs will benefit from coaching and supervision to ensure thorough hand washing and complete drying, an often-overlooked step because germs spread more easily on wet surfaces.

 Hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol should supplement, not replace, soap and water, especially when sinks are available.

Routine cleaning and disinfection of surfaces is essential for preventing the spread of infections. Daily cleaning of desks, chairs, doorknobs, faucets, electronics, and other frequently touched and shared items is recommended. Increase cleaning frequency during periods of elevated illness, like cold and flu season.

 Electronic devices are an area of particular concern in modern classrooms. They should be cleaned and disinfected using Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved products compatible with keyboards, touchscreens, and tablets.

 Compatibility information can be obtained from the equipment manufacturer.

During cold and flu season, improving air quality can meaningfully reduce the risk of respiratory infection outbreaks; the goal is to dilute the room air with as much outside air as possible. Improve ventilation by optimizing HVAC function, opening classroom and bus windows when safe, and using fan‑assisted airflow. These practices dilute airborne particles and reduce the risk of respiratory transmission.

 Air ducts, intake, and exhaust grates must be kept clean and unobstructed.

Portable air cleaners and air sanitizing sprays can supplement the HVAC system when used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

 However, their mechanisms of action have inherent shortcomings; many lack rigorous testing and validation metrics. They should not replace core strategies such as ventilation and surface cleaning.

The early detection of outbreaks relies on monitoring student (and staff) absenteeism. Research has shown that changes in absenteeism related to respiratory symptoms can correlate with community influenza trends.

 Schools should work closely with county health departments to interpret illness patterns when gastrointestinal or respiratory complaints are clustering.

CDC guidance recommends embedding an infectious disease section within the school’s Emergency Operations Plan. This section should outline protocols for monitoring illnesses, communicating with families, and activating enhanced preventive measures or temporary closure considerations during outbreaks.

It is challenging to balance public health priorities, educational needs, and parental satisfaction, particularly when deciding whether a student should be sent home. CDC recommends excluding students and staff who exhibit fever, repeated vomiting, significant diarrhea, draining wounds, or worsening respiratory symptoms not attributable to allergies.

 Schools can expect some level of mild illness throughout the year; however, symptoms that impair participation or present infection risk justify time at home. Return-to-school criteria should be clearly communicated to families and staff and enforced to maintain consistency and reduce confusion. Schools must be staffed to support families facing childcare challenges and to help students maintain educational continuity when illness keeps them at home. Without such programs in place, students will frequently show up sick, leading to transmission and outbreaks.

Vaccination remains one of the most powerful preventive tools in pediatric health. It reduces illness, decreases absenteeism, and lowers the likelihood of outbreak-related closures.

 State laws mandate vaccinations for K–12 students across public and private schools, with medical exemptions universally available and religious or philosophical exemptions permitted in some jurisdictions.

 Schools should ensure families understand these requirements and the process for submitting necessary documentation.

We are experiencing an ongoing decline in routine childhood vaccination, particularly after the COVID‑19 pandemic. Vaccine hesitancy is primarily driven by safety concerns/misinformation, philosophical beliefs, and lack of access in low-income, uninsured, or minority households. These factors have left students more vulnerable to a slew of vaccine‑preventable diseases.

Evidence-based guidance outlines practical strategies for preventing infectious disease outbreaks in K–12 schools through hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, ventilation, illness monitoring, vaccination, and food safety.