Presentation Title: Applicability of Lean Six Sigma framework on High-Level Disinfection Process Improvement
Guest Speaker: Emily Barnard, MPH, CIC
Presentation Objectives:
• Explain high-level disinfection risks and the Lean Six Sigma process improvement framework.
• Deconstruct best practices in high-level disinfection
• Detail the initiatives to reduce pathogen transmission with endoscopy procedures, equipment, and the environment.

Presentation Title: Infection Control Challenges in Dialysis
Guest Speaker: Danilo B. Concepcion, CBNT, CCHT-A, FNKF
Presentation Objectives:
• Discuss the unique spatial and temporal challenges unique to dialysis
• Explain the differences between outpatient and in-patient settings
• Present the areas of focus for dialysis IC

Presentation Title: The New ST91: An Updated Standard for Flexible Endoscope Processing
Guest Speaker: Adam Okada, CRCST, CIS, CER, CHL
Presentation Objectives:
• Discuss the updated national standard, ANSI/AAMI ST91, highlighting key differences between the 2015 version and latest version
• Identify current best practices in the processing of flexible endoscopes as outlined in ST91
• Outline how engineering quality assurance parameters into endoscope processing can help to reduce Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) and Surgical Site Infections (SSI) and help to determine if an endoscope is patient ready

Presentation Title: What a cluster! Investigating an Outbreak
Guest Speaker: Jennifer E. Jones, RN, BSN, CPEN
Presentation Objectives: 
• Identify an outbreak
• Assemble a multi-disciplinary team to identify interventions
• Implement outbreak mitigation strategies

Presentation Title: Understanding the Significance of Blood Culture Contamination: Impacts and Effective Solutions​
Guest Speaker: Molly Hough, BSN, RN, CCRN-K
Presentation Objectives: 
• Define causes and impacts of blood culture contamination (BCC)
• Describe relationship of accurate blood cultures, sepsis diagnosis, & antimicrobial stewardship​
• Identify solutions to reduce BCC, and the role of leadership to achieve long term, sustained outcomes ​
• Outline the relationship and impact of BCC reduction and accurate quality metric reporting​​​

Presentation Title: 3-Zone Strategy to Targeting Zero Harm
Guest Speaker: Natalie Duffy, BSN, RN, CCRN, VA-BC, CLSSYB
Presentation Objectives: 
• The environment of care which focuses on minimizing the spread of pathogens on surfaces by using proper disinfecting products and protocols
• Human-to-human transmission which protects patients, staff, and visitors from cross contamination with access to the proper PPE, hand hygiene and education
• Clinical practice with the goal of making it easy for frontline staff to follow aseptic technique to help prevent HAIs such as CAUTI and CLABSI

Presentation Title: Metagenomic Next-generation Sequencing: The Power of Plasma Microbial Cell-Free DNA
Guest Speaker: Pablo E Lapetina, PharmD
Presentation Objectives: 
• Provide an overview of conventional diagnostic testing in infectious diseases
• Discuss metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) technology and antimicrobial resistance markers​
• Review clinical evidence on use of mNGS and resources for appropriate implementation ​​​​

Presentation Title: Operations of Food & Nutrition-Hospital Setting
Guest Speaker: Hector Vasquez, MS, RD
Presentation Objectives: 
• Describe operations of a hospital kitchen
• Identify key regulatory requirements of a hospital kitchen​
• Discuss the role of staff in patient care​
• Describe how department ensures compliance​​​​