Events & Webinars

The Pitch – Solutions for a Safer World

Join us for this free, interactive event and discover innovative solutions advancing infection prevention and control at APIC’s virtual experience, The Pitch.

Hear directly from participating companies as they present their latest IPC innovations:

PRIZES! PRIZES! PRIZES!

Prizes will be raffled off throughout the event.

By registering for this webinar, you are agreeing to be contacted by event Sponsors. APIC does not endorse any products or technologies.

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Virtual Symposium: A transformative sterilization technology enabling the transition from high-level disinfection to terminal sterilization for flexible endoscopes...Now!

Description: Flexible endoscopes are associated with more healthcare-associated infections than any other reusable medical device. This is due to several factors to include a very high microbial load, long and narrow channels and intricate components (e.g., elevator mechanisms), biofilms, inadequate reprocessing, and use in sterile body areas (e.g., biliary tract, respiratory tract), where introduction of even small numbers of pathogens can cause serious infections. While some endoscopes used in operating rooms are sterilized, modalities for terminal sterilization of long flexible endoscopes used in endoscopy centers are just starting to come on the market.

Objectives:

• Discuss the many reasons for shifting from high-level disinfection to sterilization for flexible endoscopes to include: rationale (e.g., high infection risk, HLD is a complex process and prone to errors, no margin of safety, can be validated and provides a sterility assurance level, etc.), evidence-based guidelines; and FDA safety communications. William A. Rutala, PhD
• Describe the peer-reviewed study that used three methods to validate the ability of the new terminal sterilization technology to kill vegetative bacteria and spores with and without organic material and salt to simulate a worst-case scenario with inadequate cleaning. CurtisJ. Donskey, MD
• Describe how an endoscopy center assessed the usability of the new vaporized hydrogen peroxide endoscope sterilizer (SteroScope, Ideate Medical) to include the process for use of the new sterilizer, the impact on the sterilization staff and endoscopy center, and how the 8 endoscopy technicians assessed the SteroScope system (e.g., container, connector assemblies, and peroxide bottle consumable). Kathleen McMullen, MPH

Speaker 1: William Rutala, Ph.D, MPH, CIC

Speaker 2: Curtis Donskey, M.D.

Speaker 3: Kathleen McMullen, MPH, CIC, FAPIC, FSHEA

Download the presentation slides here.

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Vaccine Preventable Respiratory Infections in the Long Term Care Setting

Recognize the Impact of Respiratory Infections: Explain why long-term care residents are more susceptible to vaccine-preventable respiratory pathogens and the significant impact of lower respiratory tract infections. Identify Preventive Measures: Identify the various vaccine platforms, their role in preventing respiratory infections, and the CDC recommendations for each: COVID-19, RSV, and pneumococcal disease. Facilitating Vaccine Confidence: Discuss strategies to increase adult vaccination rates and address common factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy, emphasizing the role of healthcare providers in improving vaccine confidence.

Objectives: Understand the Epidemiology and Risk Factors: Describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and risk factors associated with common respiratory infections in long term care residents including COVID-19, RSV, and pneumococcal disease.

Speaker 1: Mike Kalogiannis, PhD MBA
Vaccines Field Medical Director
U.S. Medical Affairs-Pfizer Inc.

Speaker 2: Laura Manzey, PharmD
Vaccines Field Medical Director
U.S. Medical Affairs-Pfizer Inc.

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Infection Prevention Basics: Old Lessons, New Approaches, Borrowed Practices, and Ongoing Challenges

Join Metrex Prof Ed for a practical webinar exploring the evolving landscape of infection prevention. This session blends timeless fundamentals with the latest innovations and high-reliability strategies, equipping healthcare professionals to tackle persistent challenges and drive safer outcomes.

Participants will revisit the core pillars of infection prevention while learning about new technologies, regulatory standards, and proven practices borrowed from high-reliability industries. The course also addresses ongoing barriers such as IFU compliance, competing priorities, and outbreak management, offering actionable solutions for continuous improvement.

Objectives:

• Apply best practices in hand hygiene, PPE use, and environmental disinfection to reduce infection risk.
• Evaluate and implement emerging technologies and updated standards in infection prevention.
• Integrate checklists, redundancy, and debriefing into daily workflows for improved safety and compliance.
• Identify and address barriers to IFU adherence, manage competing priorities, and respond effectively to outbreaks and HAIs.

Speaker: Jane Gabalski, BSN
Clinical Sales Specialist
Metrex

CE: 1

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Reducing Risk of CRBSIs in Hemodialysis Patients: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach

Join us for an insightful presentation that features a patient’s perspective on living with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and experiencing a catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) while receiving hemodialysis through a central venous catheter (CVC), and the perspective of an Infectious Disease physician who manages these patients and will review the risks of CRBSIs, strategies for prevention, and ways that multi-disciplinary teams can work together to protect patients.

Objectives:

• Give an understanding of the challenges and risks faced by patients with ESKD who are receiving hemodialysis through a CVC.
• Discuss the risks associated with CRBSIs and their impact on patient health and outcomes.
• Explore clinical guidelines for preventing CRBSIs and the potential role of using additional measures such as a catheter lock solution to reduce risk.
• Review clinical data on an antimicrobial lock solution that was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration
• Discover ways for health care teams to collaborate to prevent CRBSIs and improve patient outcomes.

Speaker 1: Payal Patel, MD
System-Wide Medical Director of Antimicrobial Stewardship, Associate Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Intermountain Health

Speaker 2: Celina Medina
Patient Advocate

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Beyond Legionellosis: Characterizing Risk, Environmental Testing , and Validation Responses

Dr. Mark Crockett, Alex Peregord, and Morgan Sagely of Phigenics join together to present “Beyond Legionellosis: Characterizing Risk, Environmental Testing, and Validation Responses.” This webinar follows previous presentations on biofilm pathogens and additional guidelines from ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 514-2023 in addressing clinically significant microbial hazards not typically addressed by water management programs. In this discussion, the team will provide guidance on leveraging validation strategies to enhance wider clinical surveillance objectives beyond Legionella. In addition, there will be an emphasis on the role of Infection Prevention as a unique and valuable contributor to water management teams showing not just the “why” but also the “how” IP professionals can get involved.

Objectives:

• Identify best practices for incorporating additional waterborne pathogens into a current WMP to support alignment with broader infection prevention and control strategies.
• Describe how combining clinical and environmental risk characterization, proactive testing and effective response frameworks can support a broader scope of pathogens.
• Assess ways that WMPs incorporating pathogens beyond Legionella contribute to infection prevention reporting, regulatory readiness, and broader risk mitigation strategies by enhancing organizational defensibility and continuity of care.

Speaker 1: Mark Crockett
Chief Executive Officer
Phigenics

Speaker 2: Alex Peregord
Product Manager, Validation Services
Phigenics

Speaker 3: Morgan Sagely
Product Manager, Water Management Programs
Phigenics

CEs will be provided by Phigenics.

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Lessons Learned During Collaborations Between Infection Prevention and Environmental Services Personnel: You Can’t Improve What You Don’t Measure

Effective environmental cleaning and disinfection is essential for prevention of healthcare-associated infections. However, in a culture survey of 30 hospitals sponsored by APIC, we found that surfaces were often contaminated after cleaning and disinfection. To better understand why surfaces remain contaminated, we have conducted observational studies in collaboration with our EVS program to identify cleaning practices and products that may lead to ineffective cleaning and disinfection. Important findings include frequent malfunction of automated disinfectant dispensers, incorrect use of disinfectants, and suboptimal monitoring of cleaning practices and products. This presentation will review factors that were identified as contributors to ineffective cleaning and disinfection and discuss strategies for implementation of monitoring that involve collaboration between environmental services personnel and infection prevention.

Objectives:

1. To be able to describe the characteristics of disinfectants commonly used in healthcare settings.
2. To describe factors that may contribute to ineffective cleaning and disinfection in healthcare settings.
3. To be able to implement monitoring of cleaning and disinfection involving collaboration between environmental services (EVS) personnel and infection prevention.

Speaker 1: Dr. Curtis Donskey, M.D.
Infectious Diseases physician and hospital epidemiologist at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center and Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University

CEs will be provided by Clorox Healthcare

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From Design to Decontamination: The Process Behind Creating a Reprocessing Instructions for Use

1 CU/IPU – Nursing, CBSPD/HSPA, and CBIC credits

Reprocessing Instructions for Use (IFUs) are essential for patient safety, regulatory compliance, and effective device care. But how are they created? Join us for an inside look at the process, from device design and material selection to validation testing.

Objectives: By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Evaluate the regulatory and operational significance of reprocessing Instructions for Use (IFUs) in healthcare settings.
• Explain how device design, materials, and available reprocessing modalities shape IFU development.
• Describe the processes and requirements for reprocessing validation, including worst-case testing and independent laboratory evaluations.
• Recognize the role of materials compatibility testing and its impact on sterilization method selection.
• Identify opportunities for healthcare professionals to provide feedback that enhances the usability and compliance of reprocessing IFUs.

Speaker 1: Jamie McGloin, CIC, CFER
Infection Prevention & Control Specialist
Olympus Corporation of the Americas

Speaker 2: Eric Smith, CFER
Infection Prevention & Control Specialist
Olympus Corporation of the Americas

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The Last Mile of Endoscope Reprocessing: Drying and Storage

In endoscope reprocessing, the final stages can make the difference in patient safety. The Last Mile of Endoscope Reprocessing: Drying and Storage will take a closer look at the final key steps for these reusable medical devices. This session will highlight why drying and storage deserve as much attention as cleaning and high-level disinfection.

Objectives:

1. Describe the role and importance of drying and storage in reprocessing to prevent microbial growth following high-level disinfection
2. Identify risks associated with inadequate drying and improper storage
3. Discuss the variation in standards and guidelines for drying and storage of endoscopes

 Speaker: Rebecca Alvino, RN, MS, CNS, CIC, CNOR, CRCST, NEA-BC, FAPIC
System Director, University of California Davis Health

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Practical considerations for the design and implementation of a Candida auris surveillance program

This webinar, led by Dr. Rossana Rosa, explores the urgent need for Candida auris surveillance in healthcare settings. Dr. Rosa outlines the epidemiology, clinical risks, and challenges posed by this multidrug-resistant fungus, emphasizing its rapid global spread and high mortality rates. The session provides practical guidance on identifying at-risk populations, screening protocols, and laboratory testing methods.  Attendees will gain insights into designing effective surveillance programs that balance clinical, operational, and financial considerations.

Download presentation slides for this webinar here.

Speaker: Rossana Rosa MD, MSc, FIDSA
Medical Director for Infectious Diseases at Horizon Health Network

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Cleanse, Rinse, Repeat: CHG Skin Safety Practices

For over 50 years, Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) has been used in healthcare settings and has become a well-established part of infection prevention bundle strategies. Despite its long-standing reputation, myths and concerns persist.

In this session, we’ll address these concerns, debunk some of these myths, and highlight the power of a cleansing bath. We will showcase clinical outcomes through successful studies and improvement projects, demonstrating significant reductions in infection rates and cost savings.

Don’t miss the opportunity to elevate your patient bathing strategies with valuable insights from our expert panel.

Objectives:

• Identify the essential role of bathing with Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) in evidence-based bundle strategies for preventing Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs).
• Recognize the financial and psychological benefits of a cleansing CHG bath for all hospitalized patients.
• Describe and debunk common concerns and myths regarding water bathing and CHG use in healthcare.

Speakers:

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CHG Alternatives for Sensitive Skin: Preserving the Skin Barrier and Microbiome with Citrus Silver Cleansing Solutions

Objectives: By the end of this webinar, attendees will:

1. Understand the challenges and limitations of traditional CHG-based cleansing solutions.

2. Learn how Citrus Silver Topical Cleansing Solution provides a non-inferior alternative to CHG and overall skin health.

3. Explore the unique mechanism of action behind Citrus Silver’s formulation.

4. Gain insight into the broader Citrus Silver product portfolio and its applications in healthcare settings.

Speaker 1: Dr. Caitlin Crews-Stowe, PhD, MPH, CPH, CIC, CPHQ, VA
University of Tennessee, Scenic City Healthcare

Speaker 2: Martie L. Moore, MAOM, RN, CPHQ

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Mastering Laundry Inspections: A Best Practices Checklist for Infection Preventionists

Join TRSA’s free three-part webinar series to explore how hygienically clean reusable textiles support patient and staff safety. Learn from clinical and industry experts about evaluating professional laundry operations, the risks of home laundering, and best practices for linen handling. Each session delivers practical, evidence-based insights to strengthen infection prevention and textile management in healthcare settings.

This free series includes three sessions:
• May 1: Mastering Laundry Inspections: A Best Practices Checklist for Infection Preventionists
• June 3: The Risks of Home Laundering Facility-Provided Scrubs
• July 10: Linen Handling Best Practices for Infection Control

Objectives:
• Understand key infection prevention standards for professional healthcare laundry operations.
• Recognize the infection risks associated with home laundering and the benefits of professional laundering services.
• Apply best practices for linen handling to reduce the risk of cross-contamination in clinical environments.

Speakers Include:
Greg Cox, Auditor, Hygienically Clean Certifications
Liz Barber, BSN, RN, Clinical Educator, HandCraft Linen and Uniform Specialists
Dyan Troxel, MSN, RN, Director of Clinical Education, HandCraft Linen & Uniform Specialists
Mike Lang, Process Analyst, Unitex Healthcare Laundry Services
…and more

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It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Clean

Let’s look at what it means to “clean” in a healthcare environment and why
it’s important. We will discuss methods to monitor cleaning and the
cleaning process before exploring how improving cleaning may lead to
better patient outcomes.

Objectives: 

• Explain the importance of cleaning and disinfection of healthcare surfaces to limit the spread of microorganisms.
• Discuss the meaning of “clean” in the
  healthcare environment.
• Identify and describe methods for
  monitoring cleaning.
• Discuss the importance of resources in
  cleaning and surface disinfection.

CE: 1

Speaker:
Sharon Ward-Fore, BS, MS, MT(ASCP), CIC, FAPIC
Infection Prevention Consultant

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Navigating the Impact of Diagnostic Errors on Antimicrobial Stewardship and Quality Outcomes

Join us for this comprehensive webinar designed to enhance your understanding of the critical pillars that drive patient safety and care quality in diagnostic practices. This session will delve into the foundational concepts of Quality, Diagnostic Safety, Stewardship, and Excellence, with a focus on their interdependence and impact on patient outcomes. Additional focus will be placed on improving the accuracy of a critical laboratory test, blood cultures, which are prone to errors that directly impact patient care quality. Practical insights and actionable strategies that optimize blood culture practices for improved clinical care decisions will be shared.

This webinar is designed for healthcare professionals looking to enhance their diagnostic practices, improve clinical outcomes, and ensure optimal patient safety.

Objectives:

• Review the key pillars of Quality, Diagnostic Safety, Stewardship, and Excellence in healthcare.
• Understand how diagnostic safety, antimicrobial stewardship, and quality outcomes are interconnected and how each influences the other in clinical practice.
• Explore the limitations of traditional blood culture practices and examine the significant implications these limitations have on patient diagnosis and treatment.
• Evaluate the essential role clinicians play in the accurate collection of blood cultures, leveraging evidence-based practices to ensure the best patient outcomes.
• Identify and apply evidence-based strategies that can help mitigate false-positive blood cultures, enabling clinicians to become effective diagnostic stewards.

Speakers:

Tammy Johnson, RN, BS, CPM
Associate Vice President, Clinical Strategy
Magnolia Medical Technologies, Inc.

Barb DeBaun, RN, MSN, CIC
Improvement Advisor

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Streamlining Success: Mastering Urine Collection and Culture Techniques for Optimal UTI Identification

Urine collection and culturing practices are crucial for accurately diagnosing Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and ensuring patients receive the most effective treatment, which helps prevent over-treatment, additional testing, and antibiotic resistance. Proper collection and culturing minimize contamination, leading to reliable results and better patient outcomes.

In this webinar, Kathleen McMullen, Board Certified Infection Prevention and Control expert, Executive Director for Infection Prevention at Mercy and Chair of APIC’s Corporate Director Council, will explore the latest literature, guidelines, and best practices in urine culturing. She will cover methods to refine the processes of collection and testing, with the goal to achieve optimal patient outcomes.

Objectives:

1. Understand the impact of urine culture contamination and the importance of reducing it

2. Identify best practices for urine collection intended for culture

3. Explore the benefits and drawbacks of lab workflows that automatically reflex a concerning urine specimen for culture based on urinalysis results

Speaker:

Kathleen M. McMullen, MPH, CIC, FAPIC, FSHEA
Executive Director for Infection Prevention and related specialties at Mercy
Chair of APIC’s Corporate Director Council

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Endoscopy Infection Basics for IP

This webinar will help the Infection Preventionist understand:

1. The infection risks in Endoscopy
2. The HLD Process
3. That Endoscopy needs IP’s involvement

Speaker: Dr. Mary Ann Drosnock
Head of Clinical Affairs/Microbiologist

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Don’t Blow It: The New Evidence for Nasal Decolonization of All Patients

Nasal decolonization is a proven strategy to reduce surgical site infection, central line-associated bloodstream infections, and other infections. As nasal decolonization evolves from targeted to universal applications, antiseptics are clearly a superior choice. This webinar will provide the latest study results from three recently published meta-analyses on the effectiveness of antiseptics as compared to mupirocin. For IPs, being able to demonstrate the return on investment is an equally important piece to the puzzle for gaining adopted in their facility. Examples of value propositions IPs have used to successfully garner support for larger programs will be shared.

Objectives:

1. Explain the role of the nasal vestibule in healthcare-associated infections.
2. Discuss the evolution of nasal decolonization and its impact on product requirements
3. Review the results of 3 new meta-analyses on the efficacy of several nasal decolonization agents
4. Describe how to capture the impact of avoided infections and readmissions on your hospital’s operations and finances.

Speaker: Karen Hoffmann,  RN, BSN, MS, CIC, FSHEA, FAPIC
Global Life Technologies Corp

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Perspectives on C. difficile Diagnostics: Insights from the Laboratory, Infection Control, and Clinical Infectious Disease

The evolution of C. difficile (C. diff) diagnostic methodologies, infection control policies, and reporting metrics has made the diagnosis of C. diff infections a puzzling and sometimes controversial space. This webinar presents expert perspectives from three different areas of clinical practice, with discussion on the clinical and financial impacts of C. diff testing methodologies, diagnostic stewardship, and the effect of the new guidelines and reporting metrics on current practice.

Speakers:
Paul P. Cook, MD
Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases
Professor of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine
East Carolina University – Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC

John E. Markantonis, DO, D (ABMM)
Assistant Professor, Head of Microbiology
East Carolina University – Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC

Jacob Pierce, MD, MPH
Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases
East Carolina University – Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC

1.0 P.A.C.E.® contact hour will be provided for this basic level complimentary webinar.
TECHLAB is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program.

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Achieving a 1% Standard for Blood Culture Contamination Rate: Driving Best Practices and Practice Change Statewide

Reducing blood culture contamination rate plays a significant role in driving antibiotic stewardship efforts and improving quality outcomes for hospital and healthcare systems. With the release of the recent CDC guidelines, Blood Culture Contamination: An Overview for Infection Control and Antibiotic Stewardship Programs Working with the Clinical Laboratory, more and more healthcare providers are seeking practice changes, including technology solutions, that will help them achieve the new CLSI goal of 1% blood culture contamination rate with best practices.  In this webinar, learn more about these current and future measures to reduce contamination rates and improve the accuracy of blood culture results, and the practice change initiative of the Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) to benchmark blood culture contamination rates and drive evidence-based best practices to reduce these rates statewide.

Speaker: Tammy Johnson, RN, BS, CPM
AVP, Clinical Strategy and Customer Relations
Magnolia Medical Technologies

Speaker: Debra Campbell, RN-BC, MSN, CPHQ, IP, T-CHEST, CCRN
Vice President, Clinical Strategy and Transformation
Kentucky Hospital Association

CE: 1

This presentation is sponsored by Magnolia Medical. CEs are provided exclusively by the sponsor and are not part of APIC’s continuing education program.

View Recording >

From Fingers to Fomites: The Connection to Infection

The objective of this presentation is to examine the contribution of hand and environmental contamination to Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs). This webinar will examine how focusing on HAI reduction through hand hygiene alone is not sufficient. It will detail the need for a “bundled” approach consisting of hand hygiene and a cleaning and disinfection program to help drive down HAIs.

The goal is to demonstrate the connection between the role hands and the environment play in cross-contamination, helping healthcare providers understand not only the importance of hand hygiene, but also the need to develop and maintain a robust environmental hygiene program for a safer environment for patients, staff, and visitors.

Speaker: Sharon Ward-Fore, BS, MS, MT(ASCP), CIC, FAPIC
Infection Prevention Advisor
Metrex

CE: 1

This presentation is sponsored by Metrex. CEs are provided exclusively by the sponsor and are not part of APIC’s continuing education program.

View Recording >

Hand Hygiene - Why Bother?

The objective of this presentation is to comprehensively examine the evolution of hand hygiene practices over time, critically evaluating instances where improvements could have been implemented. This webinar will be enriched by the incorporation of compelling statistical insights pertaining to hand hygiene, further reinforcing the central theme of continuous enhancement. An in-depth exploration of the intricate interplay between hand hygiene and Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) will also be a focal point of this discourse. Ultimately, the primary emphasis of this presentation is to underscore the imperative of elevating our commitment to superior hand hygiene standards, driven by the unwavering dedication to the well-being of the patients under our care.

Speaker:

Sharon Ward-Fore, BS, MS, MT(ASCP), CIC, FAPIC
Infection Prevention Consultant
Essity

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Tissue Adhesive in CLABSI Prevention: A Review of Successes and Opportunities since Implementation

Patients are still developing CLABSIs under current evidence-based practice recommendations. A novel approach incorporating a TA within a prevention bundle at a tertiary academic medical center unit resulted in an 88% CLABSI reduction and more than 50% dressing disruption reduction. This session will provide a review of the successes, lessons learned, and understanding of future implications of the quality improvement project conducted.  At session completion, participants will gain the understanding of TA impact on CLABSI prevention and the knowledge to replicate a similar project approach.

Speaker: Cristina Nuila
Manager, Quality and Performance Improvement
Houston Methodist Hospital

Speaker: Maria Eva Andrew
Continuous Quality Improvement Specialist and Former ICP
Houston Methodist Hospital

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