The ICHE Podcast

Episoder

• 
  Episode 71: Bringing Antimicrobial Stewardship Expertise to Rural Hospitals Through Telehealth 28.08.2026 29min

  Based on the 2019 NHSN Annual Hospital Survey, the CDC reported that 79.5% of critical access hospitals met all seven of the CDC’s Core Elements of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs, compared to 92% of general acute care hospitals. Similarly, 82% of hospitals with 50 beds or fewer met all the core elements, as compared to 96% of those with more than 200 beds. In this episode of The ICHE Podcast, Dr. Dave Calfee speaks with three people who have been working to reduce these disparities in ant...
• 
  Episode 70: Artificial Intelligence for Surgical Site Infection Surveillance 16.06.2026 36min

  In this episode of The ICHE Podcast, host Dr. David Calfee speaks with Dr. Daniel Morgan of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Dr. Jorge Salinas of Stanford University School of Medicine about the use of artificial intelligence for surgical site infection surveillance. The conversation highlights findings from their recent studies evaluating AI-assisted approaches to surgical site infection detection, including considerations related to performance, limitations, and the safe us...
• 
  Episode 69: Reducing Bloodstream Infections in Home Infusion Settings 19.05.2026 41min

  In this episode of The ICHE Podcast, host Dr. Dave Calfee sits down with Kavita Bhavan, MD, Sara Keller, MD, MPH, MSHP, Deborah Lockard, BSN, MPH, and Sara Szathmary, BSN, RN, CNRI to discuss their recent publications in ICHE. The authors discuss what current evidence tells us about CLABSI incidence in outpatient infusion populations, why surveillance data remain limited, and the unique challenges healthcare organizations face when trying to monitor and prevent infections outside the acute ca...
• 
  Episode 68: Multidrug-resistant organisms and Candidozyma auris insights from the SHEA Research Network 24.04.2026 28min

  In this episode of THE ICHE Podcast, host Dr. David Calfee is joined by two authors from the April 2026 issue of ICHE to discuss current infection control practices and ongoing challenges in preventing multidrug-resistant organisms and Candidozyma auris in U.S. acute care hospitals. During the conversation, Dr. KC Coffey and Dr. Sarah Sansom explain the rationale behind their studies, share key findings on current practices, and highlight the challenges hospitals face in their effort...
• 
  Episode 67: Reducing Infection Risk in Hemodialysis Patients 27.03.2026 26min

  In this episode of The ICHE Podcast, host Dr. David Calfee speaks with Jose Navarrete, MD. of Emory University School of Medicine and Marin Schweizer, PhD. of the University of Wisconsin about infection risks among patients receiving hemodialysis, including common pathogens and factors that increase vulnerability. They discuss their recent research and share key findings, along with practical insights on how to improve infection prevention in hemodialysis settings. https://www.cambri...
• 
  Episode 66: Bacterial Contamination of Sink Drains in Healthcare Facilities 02.03.2026 24min

  In this episode of The ICHE Podcast, host Dr. David Calfee speaks with Bobby Warren of Duke University Medical Center and Ibrahim Ahmed El-Imam of the University of Maryland School of Medicine about their recent publications examining sink drain contamination as a reservoir for gram-negative bacteria and other healthcare-associated pathogens. "Evaluation of hydrogen peroxide-based foam disinfection for reducing gram-negative bacterial contamination in hospital sinks": https://ww...
• 
  Episode 65: Understanding the Association Between Routine Oral Care and In-Hospital Mobility with Non-Ventilator Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia 30.01.2026 27min

  In this episode of The ICHE Podcast, host Dr. David Calfee explores non–ventilator-associated hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP)—what it is, how common it is, and why it matters for patient outcomes. He is joined by Dr. Barbara Jones (University of Utah) and Dr. Sheryl Kluberg (Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and Harvard Medical School) to discuss key risk factors for NV-HAP and how preventable it may be. The conversation highlights practical prevention strategies, including ...
• 
  Episode 64: Multisociety Guidance for Infection Prevention and Control in Nursing Homes 29.12.2025 30min

  In this episode of The ICHE Podcast, host Dr. David Calfee speaks with the authors of the newly released Multisociety Guidance for Infection Prevention and Control in Nursing Homes. He is joined by Dr. Lona Mody, Dr. Deborah Burdsall, Dr. Susan Huang, Dr. Robin Jump, and Dr. Rekha Murthy to discuss the development, key updates, and practical implications of this comprehensive guidance. Developed by SHEA in collaboration with APIC, IDSA, PALTmed, and the American Geriatrics Society, t...
• 
  Episode 63: The Dynamic Interplay of Implementation and De-Implementation Science 13.11.2025 42min

  Host Dr. David Calfee speaks with Dr. Westyn Branch-Elliman, Dr. Rani Elwy, and Dr. Stephanie Stroever about their recent Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology (ICHE) papers, “The life cycle of infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship projects and interventions: The dynamic interplay of implementation and de-implementation science (Part I & II).” They discuss the role of deimplementation—removing or reducing low-value practices—in improving patient safety and care quali...
• 
  Episode 62: Infection Prevention Strategies in Long Term Care Facilities 08.10.2025 41min

  Long-term care facilities face unique challenges in preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and managing multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). In this episode of The ICHE Podcast, Dr. Loren G. Miller (UCLA), Dr. Lyndsay M. O’Hara (University of Maryland School of Medicine), and Dr. Mary-Claire Roghmann (University of Maryland School of Medicine) share insights from their recent studies on decolonization and enhanced barrier precautions—two promising approaches for reducing infecti...
• 
  Episode 61: Virtual Reality Applications in Infection Prevention and Control 08.09.2025 38min

  This episode of The ICHE Podcast explores the use of virtual reality (VR) in healthcare training, with a focus on infection prevention and control. Experts examine the current state of VR adoption, its effectiveness as an educational tool, and common challenges in implementation. Dr. Aline Wolfensberger (University Hospital Zurich), Dr. Erica Shenoy (Mass General Brigham/Harvard Medical School), and Dr. Thomas Murray (Yale University School of Medicine) present findings from their recent stud...
• 
  Episode 60: Plasma Cell-Free DNA and Metagenomic Sequencing in Infectious Disease Diagnosis 24.07.2025 42min

  In this episode of The ICHE Podcast, we take a deep dive into the evolving role of plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in the diagnosis of infectious diseases. Hosted by experts from UCLA Health, this discussion breaks down what cfDNA mNGS is, how it differs from more traditional pathogen detection tools like PCR, and where it fits in the diagnostic landscape. Dr. Ishminder Kaur, Dr. Daniel Uslan, and Dr. Shangxin Yang join the episode to explore the cl...
• 
  Episode 59: New Guidance on High-Level Disinfection and Sterilization 15.07.2025 23min

  In this episode of The ICHE Podcast, David Calfee joined by three experts who contributed to the development of the updated SHEA guidance on high-level disinfection (HLD) and sterilization: Dr. Emily Sickbert-Bennett, Dr. Audrey Calderwood, and Dr. Erica Shenoy. Together, they bring expertise in infection prevention and hospital epidemiology to a discussion of what’s new, what’s changed, and how this guidance can be applied in real-world settings. The episode begins by exploring why an updat...
• 
  Episode 58: Reducing Surgical Site Infections: Insights from Recent Research 27.05.2025 23min

  In this episode of the ICHE Podcast, we bring together Dr. Loreen Herwaldt (University of Iowa) and Dr. Jessica Seidelman (Duke University) to explore the latest research and strategies aimed at reducing the burden of surgical site infections (SSIs). SSIs remain a significant cause of postoperative morbidity and mortality, contributing to prolonged hospital stays, increased healthcare costs, and serious complications for patients. The conversation begins with a broad discussion of the current...
• 
  Episode 57: Revisiting Return-to-Work Policies: Preventing Respiratory Virus Transmission in Healthcare 18.04.2025 29min

  In this episode of The ICHE Podcast, Editor-in-Chief David Calfee is joined by Drs. Catherine Passaretti and Michael Klompas for a timely discussion on healthcare-acquired respiratory viral infections (HA-RVIs). Together, they explore how frequently these infections occur, the primary sources of transmission—including infected healthcare personnel (HCP)—and the infection prevention strategies aimed at minimizing risk. Dr. Passaretti walks listeners through her recently published letter propos...
• 
  Episode 56: Initial Specimen Diversion Devices (ISDDs) for Preventing Blood Culture Contamination 07.03.2025 37min

  In this episode of the ICHE Podcast, we explore the critical issue of blood culture contamination and the role of initial specimen diversion devices (ISDDs) in reducing false-positive results. Host Dr. David Calfee is joined by a distinguished panel of experts including: Dr. Maria Navas, Dr. Mark Rupp, Dr. Lucy Tompkins, and Dr. Francine Touzard Romo. The discussion begins with an overview of blood culture contamination—what it is, how it happens, and why it matters for patient care. Our expe...
• 
  Episode 55: Research Needs in Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) and Antimicrobial Stewardship (AS) 15.01.2025 32min

  On this episode of The ICHE Podcast, we dive into research priorities in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial stewardship (AS) with experts Robin Jump, Jennie Kwon, Daniel Livorsi, Lona Mody, and Eli Perencevich. The discussion explores the importance of publishing research agendas to stimulate focused research, guide researchers in prioritizing critical topics, and inform funding decisions. By addressing these goals, the panel aims to align research efforts with pressing...
• 
  Episode 54: Infection Prevention in Obstetrical Populations: Insights into Group A Streptococcal Infections 06.01.2025 36min

  In this episode of the ICHE Podcast, guests discuss the prevention and management of infections in obstetrical populations, with a focus on Group A Streptococcal (GAS) infections. Hosted by ICHE Editor-in-Chief, Dr. David Calfee, the episode features Dr. John Conly, Dr. Shandra R. Day, and Dr. Kiran M. Perkins. The discussion begins with an overview of GAS infections in healthcare settings, particularly in the peripartum period, highlighting the unique challenges associated with these infecti...
• 
  Episode 53: Respiratory Culturing Appropriateness in Pediatric Patients 04.11.2024 34min

  In this episode of the ICHE podcast, we explore the theme of respiratory culturing appropriateness in pediatric patients, emphasizing diagnostic stewardship's role in optimizing patient outcomes. Host David Calfee, MD, MS and guest experts, Kathleen Chiotos, MD, MSCE and Edward Lyon, DO, MA, share insights on how stewardship practices can refine respiratory testing in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), where evidence suggests these tests are often overused without clinical benefit. They ...
• 
  Episode 52: Modeling Infection Prevention: How Mathematical Models Guide Healthcare Strategies 13.09.2024 34min

  In this episode of The ICHE Podcast, we explore the use of mathematical modeling to understand the impact of different infection prevention strategies in healthcare settings. Our expert panel, featuring Daniel K. Sewell, Rachel B. Slayton, and Samuel Cincotta, delves into how modeling studies can inform healthcare decision-making by evaluating the effectiveness of various prevention approaches. The discussion covers the basic principles of modeling, commonly used methods, and the key limitat...