IPC Partners

In this special IPC Partners Insight Webinar, recorded in partnership with the Healthcare Infection Society, Dr Jon Otter provides a timely, evidence-led overview of the evolving hantavirus situation. With increasing media attention and public concern, triggered by a cruise ship–linked outbreak, this session explores what we know (and don’t know) about hantavirus, with a clear focus on practical infection prevention and control (IPC). 🔍 What this webinar covers: - Current outbreak overview and global situation - Hantavirus epidemiology and transmission dynamics - Key differences between hantavirus strains (including Andes virus) - Incubation period, clinical features, and severity - Evidence for (and limits of) person-to-person transmission - Environmental survival and disinfection insights - Latest IPC guidance – including PPE, isolation, and cleaning protocols - Practical recommendations for healthcare and community settings 💡 Key takeaway: While hantavirus (particularly Andes virus) can cause severe illness, the overall risk to the general public remains very low, and it is not expected to behave like COVID-19. Early recognition, appropriate precautions, and evidence-based IPC measures are critical. 📅 This webinar attracted over 700 registrants and includes a live Q&A addressing real-world challenges from healthcare professionals.

What does sustainability really mean for infection prevention and control—and can we deliver safe patient care while reducing our environmental impact? In this Insight Webinar, Graham Pike explores one of the most important emerging challenges in healthcare: how IPC can support (rather than hinder) the transition to sustainable, low-carbon healthcare systems. Hosted by IPC Partners in partnership with HIS and IPS, and co-chaired by Dr Jon Otter and Phil Norville, this session brings together practical examples, evidence-informed discussion, and honest reflection on the role of IPC in tackling climate change. What you’ll learn: - Why sustainability is a critical issue for healthcare (and IPC in particular) - The environmental impact of healthcare and its contribution to global emissions - How IPC practices influence waste, resource use, and carbon footprint - The concept of “yellow washing” – when IPC concerns are overstated Practical strategies to reduce impact: - Reduce unnecessary use (e.g. PPE, cannulas, linens) - Reuse where safe and evidence-based - Challenge single-use culture in healthcare - Real-world examples of sustainable IPC in practice - How IPC teams can lead change through risk assessment and collaboration Key messages: - Sustainability and IPC are not in conflict—done well, they are aligned - “Reduce, reuse, recycle” applies directly to healthcare practice - Many sustainability gains are also patient safety wins - IPC professionals have a critical leadership role in driving change - We don’t need to wait for perfect evidence—there is already clear “low-hanging fruit” About the Insight Webinar series Insight Webinars bring together leading experts to provide focused, practical overviews of key IPC topics, with live Q&A and interactive discussion. These sessions are CPD-accredited and delivered in collaboration with leading organisations including the Healthcare Infection Society (HIS) and Infection Prevention Society (IPS).

In this IPC Partners Journal Club, Dr Luke Moore (Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust) explores the growing challenge of carbapenem‑resistant organisms (CROs) in the context of global conflict, population displacement, and international travel. Drawing on a recent UK‑wide study led by Major Scott Pallett, this session examines how geopolitical instability, trauma care, and healthcare‑associated travel are reshaping the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance, and what this means for screening, surveillance, and infection prevention practice in the UK. Key topics include: - The current and future threat of CROs to UK hospitals - Travel‑associated and conflict‑related AMR risk - Variability in CRO screening and laboratory practice across the UK - Major trauma centres as sentinels for emerging resistance - Challenges in detection, organism definitions, and susceptibility testing - Duration of colonisation and implications for IPC - The limitations of decolonisation strategies - Practical system‑level approaches to improving detection and communication This session is relevant for IPC teams, microbiologists, clinicians, laboratory staff, and policy professionals interested in antimicrobial resistance, biosecurity, and global health. 📌 This Journal Club was recorded live and includes audience Q&A. All IPC Partners webinars and Journal Clubs are available on our YouTube channel.