Author: skywlker

Misinformation as a Risk Factor During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Misinformation has been a risk factor throughout the pandemic, leading to more disease and death from COVID-19. Dr Katrine Wallace (UIC School of Public Health) is an epidemiologist and social media science communicator who debunks misinformation and false claims about COVID-19 and the vaccines. In this talk she discussed the difference between misinformation vs disinformation, the techniques that people use to mislead, why misinformation goes so viral on social media, and how viral misinformation is negatively affecting public health. This webinar was co-sponsored by the Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control and the Region IV Public Health Training Center.

Using UV Light and Hand Sanitizer to Safely Distinct Against SARS-CoV-2

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have become hyper vigilant when it comes to disinfecting and sanitizing items around our workspace, homes, schools, and within healthcare settings. In this podcast, we welcome back Dr. Ziad Kazzi, Professor of Emergency Medicine and Director of the International Fellowship in Medical Toxicology at Emory University and Associate Medical Director of the Southern Regional Disaster Response System, to discuss the use and potential safety risks of two other methods for killing viruses like SARS-CoV-2: UV light and hand sanitizers.

Thank you to our co-sponsors for this podcast, the Alabama Public Health Training Center and the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Scientific Reporting During a Pandemic: A Conversation with Katherine Wu (May 11, 12PM CT)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, media outlets have been tasked with translating complex and evolving scientific data about the nature and risks of SARS-CoV-2 to the public. Journalists in these roles have had to stay up to date with rapidly evolving information, wade through misinformation, scrutinize data, and amplify voices from underrepresented and marginalized communities at unprecedented speed to keep the public informed. In this webinar, Dr. Katherine Wu, a staff writer at The Atlantic, joins us for a conversation about her experience, challenges, and lessons learned while reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic.

This webinar will be held virtually Wednesday, May 11, at 12PM CST.

It is sponsored by the Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control and co-sponsored with the Region IV Public Health Training Center. Register by clicking the button below.

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Climate-Disease Connections: Associations, Processes and Incorporation in Infectious Disease Forecast (May 4, 12pm CT)

In this lecture, Dr. Jeffrey Shaman (Professor, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Director, Climate and Health Program, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health) will explore the relationship between disease systems and the broader effects of climate and weather on human health.

Dr. Shaman is also Faculty Chair of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs at the Columbia Climate School. He studies the survival, transmission and ecology of infectious agents, including the effects of meteorological and hydrological conditions on these processes. His work-to-date has primarily focused on mosquito-borne and respiratory pathogens. He uses mathematical and statistical models to describe, understand and forecast the transmission dynamics of these disease systems, and to investigate the broader effects of climate and weather on human health.

The lecture is sponsored by the Lister Hill Center for Health Policy, Office of Public Health Practice, Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control, and Department of Environmental Health Sciences and will take place from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on May 4 via Zoom. Participants can register using the button below.

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  • ARC IPC

Epidemiology 101: Fundamental Concepts for Understanding the Pandemic (February 24, 12pm CT)

Understanding epidemiologic concepts has been consistently and increasingly important in personal and professional decision-making as the pandemic has continued and all elements of it have evolved. Join Dr. Stella Aslibekyan as she presents several tools to help you read and think critically about pandemic-related news from an epidemiological perspective. The webinar will focus on concepts like herd immunity, vaccine efficacy, and endemic infection, and what they mean for COVID-19 control. There will also be a focus on disentangling correlation from causation.

This webinar is co-sponsored by Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance, Region IV Public Health Training Center, and Deep South Center for OH&S .

The Deep South Center for OH&S is an approved provider of continuing education units for nurses by the AL Board of Nursing (Provider ABNP0420 Expiration Date 12/22/2025) and has awarded this program 1.0 contact hours.

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Face Masks: Materials, Fit, and Filtration during the COVID-19 Pandemic (February 17, 12pm CT)

Masking has become one of the most pervasive topics since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Join Dr. Jeremy Walker, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, as he presents on different types of masks, fit, filtration, and behaviors in wearing masks, as well as his current research on mask usage. Specific learning objectives include understanding the distinction between airborne and droplet spread of viral pathogens, recognizing important considerations when choosing a mask, and data on the effectiveness of masking in decreasing viral spread. Nursing CEUs are pending for this event.

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The Deep South Center for OH&S is an approved provider of continuing education units for nurses by the AL Board of Nursing (Provider ABNP0420 Expiration Date 12/22/2025) and has awarded this program 1.0 contact hours.

Using QATs, Hydrogen Peroxide and Phenol as Disinfectants Safely in Schools and Healthcare

Proper disinfectant usage is of paramount importance in the fight against COVID-19 and other viruses. Join Dr. Ziad Kazzi from Emory University as he shares with the ARC IPC his expertise on three common disinfectants: Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QATs), Hydrogen Peroxide and Phenol. Dr. Kazzi will explain how and why to learn more about and properly, safely use these chemicals to disinfect against COVID-19 and other viruses.

Decreasing Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) in Healthcare Facilities

Janet Chance, Director, Quality, Infection Prevention, and Accreditation, Cullman Regional Medical Center, shares insights behind CRMC’s development of a series of protocols to reduce surgical site infections (SSIs) in their patient population. She outlines elements of a process that included targeted surveillance, multidisciplinary process mapping, whole-organization buy-in, and patient education, ultimately leading to vastly improve outcomes in terms of a greatly reduced incidence of SSIs. Give the podcast a full listen and take advantage of CRMC’s resources below.

SSI-Prevention-Project-OverviewDownload
Policy-and-Procedure-ManualDownload
Patient-Instructions-CHG-Soap-Preoperative-BathingDownload
Patient-Instructions-CHG-Wipes-Preoperative-BathingDownload