Infection Control Matters

Brush, Rinse, Prevent Pneumonia: The HAPPEN Trial Story

The tables are turned in this episode. Prof Trisha Peel and Dr Sally Havers guest host this podcast and interview Brett Mitchell, Nicole White and Martin Kiernan about their recent publication in Lancet Infectious Disease.
The publication showcases results from a recent multi-centre RCT demonstrating the benefit of improving oral care in reducing the risk of non-ventilator associated pneumonia (NV-HAP). The authors are probed about why they did the study, key findings, implementation and other aspects not always published in peer reviewed journals.
White NM, Russo PL, Matterson G, Browne K, Cheng AC, Kiernan M, et al. Effectiveness of oral care for the prevention of non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAPPEN): a multicentre, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised trial in Australia. Lancet Infect Dis 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(26)00235-5
Information about the study available here: https://happenstudy.com/

ESCMID Global 2026 Posters (Part 2): Patient Partnership, Communication and Collaboration

In the second ESCMID Global 2026 poster tour episode, Brett and Martin found three different and thought-provoking posters that highlight the importance of people, partnerships and communication in advancing infection prevention and control.
We begin by talking to Dr Aline Wolfensberger from Zurich about a Swiss project that used human-centred design and co-production to develop practical tools that engage patients and relatives in the prevention of non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia. Through a process of interviews, observations and co-design workshops, the team created innovative, low-cost solutions to promote oral care and mobilisation, demonstrating how patients and families can become active partners in prevention.
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/download/ina7czek4ac7q83r/ESCMID_Global_2026_-_Patient_partnership_for_prevention_PPP_-_co-designed_solutions_to_engage_patients_and_relatives_in_non-ventilator_hospital-acquired_pneumonia_preventiona7pol.pdf 
 
We then examined an innovative researcher–journalist residency programme that explored the challenges of communicating science to wider audiences. The project revealed the differing cultures, expectations and pressures faced by researchers and journalists, while identifying opportunities to strengthen collaboration and improve public understanding of infectious diseases and healthcare.
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/download/ykf54b6zejskjhwt/ESCMID_Global_2026_-_Promoting_scientific_communication-_insights_from_a_joint_researcher_journalist_residency8nweq.pdf 
 
Finally, we discussed findings from the EU-JAMRAI 2 initiative with the author. This work explored the collaboration needs of infection prevention professionals across Europe. The study highlights the value of mentorship, peer-to-peer learning and international networking in supporting professional development and sharing best practice.
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/download/yungzdpc6fatf3zd/ESCMID_Global_2026_-_Assessment_of_peer-to-peer_collaboration_needs_across_IPC_professionals_in_Europe_an_EU-JAMRAI-2_initiative9cro2.pdf 

ESCMID Global 2026 – Selected Gems from the Poster Hall (Part 1)

In the first of two special episodes recorded live from the poster hall at ESCMID Global 2026 in Munich, Brett and Martin swap the lecture theatre for the exhibition floor as they explore some of the most interesting infection prevention and antimicrobial resistance research on display.
In this episode we discuss the following posters. Links to copies of the posters are provided.
The hidden cost of contact precautions – Researchers from Greece quantify the enormous bed capacity burden created by patients requiring isolation or cohorting for multidrug-resistant organisms, showing that although only 4% of admissions required contact precautions, they accounted for over 10% of hospital bed-days.https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/download/qgadvjnz5btbbhru/ESCMID_Global_2026_-_Bed_resources_needed_for_patients_on_contact_precautions_because_of_MDR_pathogens8p3ta.pdf 
Can Google Maps reviews tell us something about infection prevention? – An innovative analysis from Germany and Spain explores thousands of online hospital reviews, demonstrating that infection prevention issues feature prominently in patient feedback and are often associated with more negative experiences.https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/download/4fgzatetxdrdiunr/ESCMID_Global_2026_-_Infection_prevention_in_hospitals_in_Germany_and_Spain-_a_Google_Maps_review_analysis6b9ko.pdf 
What lives on shared surfaces in long-term care? – A Dutch environmental microbiology study reveals frequent contamination of high-touch communal surfaces with clinically important Gram-negative organisms, raising important questions about cleaning practices and transmission risks in care facilities.https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/download/w9vgebabddcywhny/ESCMID_Global_2026_-_Gram-negative_microorganisms_on_high-touch_shared_surfaces_in_Dutch_long-term_care_facilities7clqb.pdf 
Using bacteriophages as environmental disinfectants – Researchers from China describe how a targeted phage cocktail reduced environmental contamination and clinical isolation rates of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in an intensive care setting, offering a fascinating glimpse into future biological approaches to environmental decontamination.https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/download/vj92ubxxfw8t9szj/ESCMID_Global_2026_-_Phage_intervention_effectively_reduces_nosocomial_transmission_of_carbapenem-resistant_em_Acinetobacter_baumannii_-em_ays63.pdf 
Is more screening worth it? – A Norwegian modelling study examines the economics of expanded admission screening for antimicrobial resistance, suggesting that broader screening of higher-risk patients can prevent healthcare-associated infections and remain cost-effective in a low-prevalence setting.https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/download/bfmjj2t797589cfy/ESCMID_Global_2026_-_Cost-effectiveness_of_proposed_screening_guideline_for_resistant_microbes_compared_to_current_screening_guideline_for_patients_upon_admission_to_Norwegian_hospitals8oum8.pdf 
Making guidelines engaging again – An Irish trainee-led "Infection Guideline Club" demonstrates how peer-delivered education can improve engagement with clinical guidelines, build confidence, and create valuable opportunities for discussion and learning.https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/download/w9zpcbrbrimdken8/ESCMID_Global_2026_-_Successful_development_of_peer_delivered_Infection_Guideline_Club_-_a_six-month_pilot_and_anonymous_participant_survey8ruuu.pdf 

Highlights from ESCMID 2026: Key Papers in Infection Control

In this episode, Brett and Martin talked to Dr Nico Tom Mutters about the papers he selected in the always popular 'Year in Infection Control' session at ESCMID Global 2026. Nico is Director of the Institute for Hygiene and Public Health at Bonn University Hospital and also Chair of EUCIC (European Committee on Infection Control). It is always fascinating to see which papers are selected in these sessions and we discussed a few papers that he selected from the preceding 12 months, a list of which follow.
SuDDICU Investigators for the Australia New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group and the Canadian Critical Care Trials Group. Selective Decontamination of the Digestive Tract during Ventilation in the ICU. N Engl J Med 2026;394(15):1491–502. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2506398 
Hammond NE. et al. Selective Decontamination of the Digestive Tract in Adult Mechanically Ventilated Patients - An Updated Systematic Review with Bayesian Meta-Analysis. NEJM Evid 2026;5(5):EVIDoa2500264. https://doi.org/10.1056/EVIDoa2500264
Arreba P. et al. Gel nail polish does not have a negative impact on the nail bacterial burden nor on the quality of hand hygiene with an alcohol-based hand rub. J Hosp Infect 2025;157:40–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2024.12.006
Gross N. et al. Effects of microplastic concentration, composition, and size on Escherichia coli biofilm-associated antimicrobial resistance. Appl Environ Microbiol 2025;91(4):e0228224. https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.02282-24
Reese SM. et al. Why do infection preventionists leave a job? A qualitative evaluation of infection preventionist attrition in health care. Am J Infect Control 2025;53(9):919–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2025.06.011 
 
Other papers selected by Nico were:
Mason M. et al Moral distress among infection prevention and control professionals: A scoping review. Infect Dis Health 2025;30(2):152–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2024.10.002
Kotay SM. et al. Biofilm removal in hospital sink drains drives unintended surges in antibiotic resistance. NPJ Antimicrob Resist 2026;4(1):5. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44259-025-00176-2 
Ferreira JMG. et al. Quality of hand hygiene performance: A systematic literature review. Am J Infect Control 2026;54(2):192–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2025.08.025
Ullman AJ. et al. A Comparison of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Materials. N Engl J Med 2025;392(2):161–72. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2406815
Recanatini C. et al. Impact of Pseudomonas aeruginosa carriage on intensive care unit-acquired pneumonia: a European multicentre prospective cohort study. Clin Microbiol Infect 2025;31(3):433–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2024.11.007
Orsel LM. et al. The role of gowns in preventing nosocomial transmission of respiratory viruses: a systematic review. J Hosp Infect 2025;163:57–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2025.05.023
Mellon G. et al. Assessment of air infectious contamination during wound care in a burn intensive care unit using shotgun metagenomics. Am J Infect Control 2025;53(11):1144–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2025.08.003
Kim JH. et al. Association between multidrug-resistant organism status and quality of end-of-life care in patients with advanced cancer referred to palliative care: a retrospective cohort study with nationwide data linkage. Clin Microbiol Infect 2026;32(5):822–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2025.11.032
Sutjipto S. et al. Plastic Waste and COVID-19 Incidence Among Hospital Staff After Deescalation in PPE Use. JAMA Netw Open 2025;8(4):e255264. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.5264 
 

ESCMID Global 2026: What Matters for Practice

In this episode, Brett and Martin reflect on the IPC components a major conference. Recorded after our visit to ESCMID Global 2026 held in Munich, Germany in April, this episode brings together key insights and conversations from across the first three days of the meeting. We reflect on emerging evidence, practical challenges, and the real-world implications for infection prevention and control, with a focus on what genuinely shifts practice rather than what simply looks good on paper. As always, the aim is to translate complex science into usable ideas for clinicians, infection preventionists, and anyone working to reduce harm from healthcare-associated infection. Sunsequent episodes will include discussions with presenters and the poster sessions will follow.In this episode we included sessions in which you might find these links interesting:
 
Albers B, et al. Examining tailoring as an implementation strategy for reducing healthcare-associated infections across European acute care hospitals (REVERSE): study protocol for a hybrid type 2 effectiveness-implementation trial. Trials 2025;26(1):418. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-025-09132-x 
https://www.reverseproject.eu/
Kalisvar Marimuthu's Bluesky post on his toilet session (well worth a look):https://bsky.app/profile/kalisvar.bsky.social/post/3mjthohalq22e 
 

Why Healthcare Cleaning Is Different: Reflections from Interclean 2026

In this episode, recorded live from Interclean in Amsterdam, Brett and Martin highlight the contibution of Clean Hospitals to healthcare hygiene and reflect on the contrast between healthcare cleaning and the wider cleaning industry. While the scale, innovation, and investment in cleaning technology are impressive, much of it is not designed with healthcare realities in mind. We discuss why cleaning in hospitals is fundamentally different — shaped by interruptions, human behaviour, complex environments, and higher-risk pathogens.
Key links
www.cleanhospitals.com
Paper referred to:
Xie, A., C. Rock, Y.-J. Hsu, P. Osei, J. Andonian, V. Scheeler, S. C. Keller, S. E. Cosgrove and A. P. Gurses (2018). "Improving Daily Patient Room Cleaning: An Observational Study Using a Human Factors and Systems Engineering Approach." IISE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors 6(3-4): 178–191. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6760906/pdf/nihms-1041686.pdf 

Automated bloodstream infection surveillance - Measuring what matters?

How well do we really measure bloodstream infections and could it be routinely automated?
In this episode, Brett and Martin look at two papers on automated hospital-onset bacteraemia (HOB) surveillance, one a retrospective review in a single hospital in Berlin (Rüther et al) and a national UK study (Cregan, Oxford and UKHSA) exploring whether surveillance could move from local, manual processes to a fully automated national system, which was spectacularly accurate.
 
Ruther, F. D., M. Behnke, L. A. Pena Diaz, F. Schwab, C. Geffers and S. J. S. Aghdassi (2026). "Advancing hospital-onset bacteraemia surveillance: a five-year retrospective study following the hospital-wide implementation of an automated surveillance system at a German university hospital." Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 15(1). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13756-026-01708-9 
Cregan, J., O. Nsonwu, D. Chudasama, S. Hopkins, B. Muller-Pebody, R. Hope, C. Brown, D. W. Eyre, T. P. Quan and A. S. Walker (2026). "The potential of a centrally implemented system for national surveillance of bloodstream infections in England, compared to current local surveillance, 2023-2024." J Hosp Infect 169: 5–14. https://www.journalofhospitalinfection.com/article/S0195-6701(25)00417-7/fulltext 

Surfaces - High touch or high risk?

In this episode, Martin and Brett talk about what is a high risk and what is a high touch surface. Are they the same? The discussion is based on the following paper:
 
Zheng et al (2025). “High-touch” surfaces are not always “high-risk” surfaces in ICU environment. Journal of hospital infection. 
https://www.journalofhospitalinfection.com/article/S0195-6701(26)00079-4/fulltext

Do we feel that we are experts? Take two

Back in July 2022 when the world was opening up again Brett, Phil and Martin were all in Melbourne and met up for a chat. The topic was 'Are we experts', however due to incompetence (Martin) the recording was terrible and his rather poor editing skills (learnt entirely by watching YouTube videos from Mike Russell) didn't help much. Now however by using Adobe AI voice enhancement it has been possible to rescuscitate the recording, and we felt that it was worth a reissue.
 

Resourcing of hospital infection prevention and control programs

In this podcast, Phil and Brett speak with Dr Lyn-Li Lim from VICNISS (Victorian Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance System)in Australia. Dr Lim and colleagues recently explored the infection prevention and control resourcing levels in 113 facilities, including FTE per 100 beds. This podcast explores the differences in resourcing for different categories of hospitals.
 
A link to the publication is here. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019665532500570X