The Salt of the Earth- Photography, Humanism and Self Reflection

The Salt of the Earth is a deep and provoking documentary on Brazilian Sebastiao Salgado's career as an economist turned professional photographer. 

Salgado travels the world as a witness to life, death, tragedy and the depth of the human condition. His work spans years and space, having visited every continent.

Truth and meaning through photography. Beautiful, sad and resonating. 

Salgado is a humanist with a global lens.

Mexican Congreso Nacional de Infectología y Microbiología Clínica- Images from Monterrey et Environs

Below are some images from Monterrey and surrounding area, including the Grutas (Caverns) de Garcia.

I will update my website with a full image gallery in the near future. Back to the USA tomorrow.

Hasta pronto.

Day 2: Congreso Nacional de Infectología y Microbiología Clínica

Today I debated my esteemed colleague Dr. Alejandro Macías Hernández on medical attire and risk of infection.

The winds of medical attire change are already blowing here in Mexico, some hospitals have banned ties at the bedside.

Yesterday, during the expert panel presentation we were posed with the question of norovirus and threat of aerosolized transmission, as reported in this scientific paper.

We employ contact precautions for norovirus in the hospital. It would take one significant outbreak with ongoing transmission for me to consider a change in isolation practice. Hand hygiene with soap and water and prompt isolation is sufficient.

No change is needed at the moment.

Day 1: Congreso Nacional de Infectología y Microbiología Clínica

Today at the Mexican Congreso Nacional de Infectología y Microbiología Clínica I gave my lecture on healthcare personnel attire, white coats and bare below the elbows. 

There was sizable audience and serious interest in the subject. 

Later I participated in an expert panel on challenging cases in infection prevention. 

Kudos to the conference organizers for putting together a stellar program with significant audience participation.

Looking forward to the debate tomorrow.

Mexican Congreso Nacional de Infectología y Microbiología Clínica

I am currently in Monterrey, Mexico at the Mexican Congreso Nacional de Infectología y Microbiología Clínica.

The official congress program starts on May 25th, my 1st lecture on healthcare personnel attire is at 1 pm.

Here are some random images of Monterey today. Hot, humid, scenic.

Hand Hygiene on TED- Social Learning, Mindfulness and Heartfulness

Here is the challenge of hand hygiene seen from a different perspective. In this TED Talk on hand hygiene by Dr. Sanjay Saint, the concepts social learning and mindfulness are explored.

The challenge to hand hygiene promotion goes beyond the obstacles of organizational constipators and resistors.  He argues for social learning to guide hand hygiene practice and for creating a culture that refuses to accept anything but the highest standard of care. Also, Dr. Saint argues for mindfulness, which leads to heartfulness in which kindness, compassion and connectedness motivates high quality hospital care, including hand hygiene.

The concepts are both nuanced and valid. Implementation to scale is likely very challenging. 

I am intrigued about the compliance of hand hygiene practice at Dr. Saint's hospital and about his success in advocating heartfulness as a motivator of best practices.

On Tuesday the 24th of May I am off to the Mexican Congreso Nacional de Infectología y Microbiología Clínica.

Universal Personal Protective Equipment Pro/Con Debate: SHEA Spring 2016 Conference

Today I had the honor and pleasure to debate Dr. Anthony Harris of the University of Maryland on universal personal protective equipment (PPE) use for the control of endemic pathogens.

It was a spirited interaction, one in which I argued against universal PPE use for the control of MRSA and VRE in endemic, acute care settings.

Kudos to Dr. Harris for an excellent presentation. I enjoyed the to and fro.

We were both interviewed for Contagion magazine, to be live on their website in the next couple of weeks.

SHEA 2016 Spring Conference: Raising Awareness Through Narrative and Beyond

Inspirational lectures and presentations where on the program today, particularly on the use of narrative to expand awareness in infection control.

Maryn McKenna presented When Antibiotics Fail: A science Journalist’s Perspective.  Victoria and Armando Nahum gave a gripping personal account on hospital infection infections, from the perspective of a patient.

The take home message: Be the change!

Drs. Michael Stevens and Michelle Doll presented their research during the poster sessions.

Tomorrow is my pro/con debate with Dr. Anthony Harris on universal personal protective equipment use.

Stay tuned.

Dr. Michael Stevens

VCU Infection Prevention Nurse: Diane Heipel

Dr. Michelle Doll

Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2016 Annual Conference, Atlanta, Georgia

I am currently in Atlanta at the 2016 SHEA Spring Conference.

The scientific program thus far has been excellent, particularly this morning’s session on “Selling Your Results: To Suits, Scientists and Society”. The quote of the session was:

‘Diplomacy is the act of letting someone else have your way.’

Yesterday I sat for a video interview with Contagion magazine, to be published online. The topic was animal assisted therapy in healthcare and infection risk, based on a lecture that I gave at one of the SHEA Plenary sessions.

On Saturday I have a debate with Dr. Anthony Harris from the University of Maryland, a pro/con exchange on the universal use of gowns and gloves. Expect a spirited discussion.

Stay tuned.

Below are some pictures from the event featuring some of my colleagues and students from VCU.