Beware of Presenteeism: Respiratory Viral Season is Around the Corner

Beware of presenteeism. Respiratory viral season is just around the corner.   

Kudos to Priya Nori and colleagues on this publication on presenteeism (working when sick) in training programs, a relevant reminder of the looming threat of viral respiratory pathogens transmitted within the workplace.

Presenteeism is high amongst training programs.  Aggressive campaigns are needed to raise awareness about the danger to patients from ill providers.  

A culture shift is required to emphasize 'fitness for work' rather than being a 'hero'  when working under the weather.

The time for action is now, at the onset of viral respiratory season in North America.

Thank you Richmond Academy of Medicine: Lunch on Tuesdays Program and Infection Prevention

Thank you to the Richmond Academy Medicine for their invitation to speak today at the Lunch on Tuesdays Program.

Not surprisingly, my topic was the only thing that I know a little bit about, hospital infection prevention.  The lecture was largely based on our published manuscript titled Hospital Infection Prevention: How Much Can We Prevent and How Hard Should We Try. The paper is accessible via PubMed, here.

It was a pleasure to give a lecture locally with such an engaged audience.

ID Week 2019, Washington DC: Day 4- Parting Shots

Really enjoyed ID Week 2019. High quality meeting with meaningful colleague interactions. That's what it is all about.

Kudos to all the high quality presentations during the session that I moderated with Dr. Shandra Day.

Wonderful ID Week Leadership reception at the Smithsonian Museum, where I visited the infectious diseases outbreak exhibit, to round out the experience.

Heading back to Richmond later in the afternoon, already looking forward to ID Week 2020.

ID Week 2019, Washington DC: Day 3- SHEA Society Awards

Thank you to the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA)for the 2019 Barry Farr Award for the best domestic clinical study published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology (ICHE). Our manuscript is PubMed Indexed here.

More importantly, thank you to my amazing collaborators and to all of the healthcare workers at VCU. They do all the work so that I may take the credit.

Last, it was an honor to share the awards ceremony with Dr. Joseph Mylotte, the 2019 Recipient of he Sue Bradley Award, for his work as an ICHE manuscript reviewer. Dr. Mylotte made a huge and positive impression on me during my time as a medical student at the University of Buffalo.

I am humbled by the high quality colleagues honored today at the ID Week 2019 SHEA Society Awards.

Preventing C. difficile in the Hospital: What is the Endgame? Latest Publication in BMJ Quality and Safety

What is the endgame in preventing C. difficile in the hospital?

Our perspective on the matter, with Susy Hota as the first author, is now published in BMJ Quality and Safety. The article is accessible here.

Prevention requires bold and calculated steps to minimize the overuse of antibiotics in the hospital. All other strategies are minimally effective. 

ID Week 2019, Washington DC: Day 2

The Three Amigos Reunited: with Drs. Mike Edmond (University of Iowa) and Mike Stevens (VCU)

ID Week 2019 is off to a roaring start. The high quality scientific program serves both to educate and inspire.

Perhaps the real reason for why I consistently attend these meetings is to catch up with colleagues, mentors and friends. 

Nearly all my accomplishments in academic medicine is from collaboration with high quality colleagues.

Thank You Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) Board of Trustees ! It Has Been Great.

Thank you to the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) Board of Trustees for two really great years on the board. My term concludes at the end of the year and this ID Week conference marks my last in person board meeting.

More importantly, thank you to SHEA for all that it does to advance patient safety and the science, education and implementation of healthcare epidemiology.

Last, thank you to the entire SHEA Board and staff, your work is truly inspirational. 

As always, I have learned much more than I have contributed.

It was an honor.