In this episode, our hosts chat with Dr. Rebecca Crapanzano-Sigafoos and Frankie Catalfumo about APIC’s updated CAUTI Implementation Guide and the collaborative efforts behind it. They share the guide’s origins and what inspired the guide, highlight key prevention strategies, and debunk some common misconceptions about CAUTI in healthcare. Tune in to hear the discussion about real-world implementation challenges, the distinction between essential and additional practices, and how the new tools were designed to enhance process improvement. Get inspired to “partner harder” and strengthen your IP practice!

Hosted by:

Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC, FAPIC and Lerenza L. Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB

About our Guests:

Rebecca (Becca) Crapanzano-Sigafoos, DrPH, CIC, FAPIC (previously Bartles)

Rebecca (Becca) Crapanzano-Sigafoos, DrPH, CIC, FAPIC is the Executive Director of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Prevention (APIC)’s Center for Research, Practice, and Innovation (CRPI). Becca has practiced Infection Prevention and Infectious Disease Epidemiology for the last 20 years in a variety of healthcare settings and has numerous publications focused on infection prevention staffing and endoscope safety. She received both her BS in Public Health, Health Education and her MPH in Epidemiology from East TN State University. She completed her Doctorate in Public Health in 2021 with a dissertation topic of “Assessing efficacy of an evidence-based Clostridiodes difficile screening tool using electronic medical record data.” She has been CIC certified since 2008 and is an APIC fellow. Most notably, though, Becca is the mother of six amazing daughters, ages 10-27.

Frankie Catalfumo, MPH, CIC, CRCS

Frankie Catalfumo, MPH, CIC, CRCST is the Director of Practice Guidance and Health Equity at APIC in their Center for Research, Practice, and Innovation (CRPI). Frankie is an infection preventionist with more than 10 years of experience leading collaborative initiatives within acute healthcare and the federal government. In his current role, he oversees the development of practice guidance tools that are meaningful to the association’s membership. He also leads investigative work regarding the relationship between health equity and infection prevention. Prior to joining APIC, Frankie led infection prevention initiatives at Inova Health System, the Johns Hopkins Hospital, the Department of Defense, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From the global HIV epidemic to the threat of multi-drug resistant bacteria, all infectious agents prompt the need for effective prevention and control measures. Frankie is board-certified in infection control (CIC) and in sterile processing (CRCST).

Resource:

CAUTI Implementation Guide

How do infection prevention strategies vary across the globe? In this episode, Kelly Holmes and Lerenza Howard talk with infection control experts Dr. Filippo Medioli from Italy and Dr. Tatiana Izakovic from Slovakia. They explore how cultural attitudes, institutional policies, and limited resources shape infection control efforts worldwide. The conversation also compares how hospitals in different countries train and staff their infection prevention teams. Key topics include antimicrobial stewardship, the lasting impact of COVID-19 on protocols, and how innovations like AI and diagnostic stewardship are transforming the fight against healthcare-associated infections. Don’t miss this vital conversation!

Hosted by:

Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC, FAPIC and Lerenza L. Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB

About our Guests:

Filippo Medioli, MD

Born in Milan, Dr. Filippo Medioli is an Infectious Diseases Specialist at Humanitas Research Hospital in Italy and a PhD Candidate at the same institution. His expertise extends to antimicrobial stewardship and clinical infectious diseases, reflected in his role as an ad hoc member of the ESGAP Executive Committee.

Dr. Medioli has broadened his international experience through a clinical observership at Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío (HUVM) in Seville, Spain, from May to July 2024. Additionally, he serves as the Network Officer for the Trainee Association of European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases or ESCMID, beginning in April 2024, fostering collaboration among early-career infectious disease specialists.

In his free time, he enjoys expressing his creativity through painting and drawing.

Tatiana Izakovic, MD, MHA, CIC

Tatiana Izakovic, MD, MHA, CIC is an experienced hospital epidemiologist and infection control specialist. She is currently a PhD candidate at Comenius University School of Medicine, where she also serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Hygiene.

Dr. Izakovic has held leadership roles in infection prevention and hospital epidemiology, including serving as a hospital epidemiologist at Hospital Bory and as an infection control consultant. She is an active member of international professional organizations, including ESCMID and APIC, where she sits on the Communications Committee. Her research and presentations focus on hospital-associated infections, patient safety, and epidemiological strategies.

Dr. Izakovic holds an MD from Comenius University, an MHA from the University of Iowa, and a CIC certification from CBIC.

Tuberculosis remains a pressing public health challenge, with recent outbreaks highlighting its persistent threat. In this episode infectious disease expert Dr. Matt Shoemaker dives into the TB outbreak in Kansas. He unpacks the complexities of its transmission, the symptoms to watch for, and the obstacles faced in controlling its spread. Explore how public health officials are tackling this crisis, the crucial role of identifying latent TB cases, and the broader influence of policy on prevention. Join us for an eye-opening discussion on combating this enduring health concern.

Hosted by:

Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC, FAPIC and Lerenza L. Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB

About our Guest:

Dr. Matt Shoemaker, DO, FIDSA

Dr. Matt Shoemaker, DO, FIDSA, Infectious Disease and Internal Medicine, graduated from the University of Health Sciences-College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, MO in 2000. He subsequently completed a traditional rotating osteopathic internship at Capital Regional Medical Center in Jefferson City, MO. After completion of his internship, he completed a residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Infectious Disease, both at the University of Missouri – Columbia School of Medicine in Columbia, MO. He also maintains a medical practice specializing in Infectious Disease.

Dr. Shoemaker is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine. He was in private practice in southeast Missouri from 2006 until 2019. He also served as vice president and chief medical officer at SoutheastHEALTH in Cape Girardeau, MO from 2014 until 2019. In 2018 he was advanced to a Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. In July of 2019 he joined the University of Kansas Medical Center Division of Infectious Diseases as assistant professor of clinical medicine. He is currently an associate professor of clinic medicine and serves as the Director of the Division of Infectious Disease at the University of Kansas Medical Center.