IPC Partners

Recorded: 21 January 2026 • Duration: 46:18 Speakers: Dr Brenna Doran, Dr Sara Reese, Dr Phil Norville, Dr Jon Otter. A candid, practical conversation about burnout in infection prevention & control (IPC)—what it is, how to recognise it, and what organisations and individuals can do about it. What you’ll learn • Why many infection preventionists report intense exhaustion yet remain deeply engaged with their work—and why that distinction matters. • How a pilot using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) helped separate perceived burnout from burnout measured by a validated tool. • The most consistent stressors (workload, barriers, feeling misunderstood) and the protective role of purpose, value, and connection. • Pragmatic strategies: workload triage (“that’s a tomorrow problem”), realistic boundaries and hard stops, hybrid/at‑home focus days, and leadership actions that actually help. Key takeaways • Verification helps: a structured, validated assessment can reduce anxiety for many who feel “on the edge,” and provide clarity (or validation) for those who meet burnout criteria. • Engagement is protective: passion and a sense of purpose correlate with resilience—even when fatigue is high. • It’s not just individual resilience: sustainable fixes require organisational action—adequate staffing, realistic workloads, psychological safety, and flexible work models. • Make boundaries visible: short “must‑do‑today” lists and agreed hard stops prevent work from endlessly expanding into personal time. • Talk about it: if you’re struggling, speak to someone—normalising the conversation reduces stigma and enables support. #InfectionPrevention #IPC #Burnout #Wellbeing #HealthcareWorkforce #PatientSafety #MaslachBurnoutInventory #JournalClub

Candida auris: The Infection Control Challenges in Kuwait — Insight Webinar (January 7, 2026) Hosted by IPC Partners, Healthcare Infection Society (HIS) and the Infection Prevention Society (IPS) Candidozyma auris (C. auris), previously known as Candida auris, continues to pose one of the most urgent global infection control challenges. In this Insight Webinar, we explore the emerging epidemiology, rising burden and innovative control strategies from Kuwait — a country experiencing a rapid increase in C. auris bloodstream infections. 🎙 Speaker: Dr. Areej Y. Alali, Head of Surveillance, Infection Control Directorate, Kuwait Ministry of Health, PhD in Epidemiology & Public Health (UCL, UK) Convenors: Dr. Jon Otter & Dr Phil Norville. 📌 Session Overview In this webinar, Dr. Alali presents Kuwait’s national experience with Candida auris—from its alarming rise in candidemia cases to implementing a country‑wide response across 12 adult medical‑surgical ICUs. Topics covered include: - The increasing burden of C. auris in ICUs across Kuwait - Epidemiological trends from 2016–2024 - Challenges in identification, colonisation, resistance and environmental contamination - The shift from traditional IPC approaches to more aggressive, targeted measures - Screening strategies (culture vs PCR), body sites and silent carriers - Environmental cleaning and disinfection: chlorine vs peracetic acid wipes - CHG (chlorhexidine) bathing: technique, dilution errors, compliance and impact - Dramatic reduction in C. auris acquisition and candidemia in 2025 - Behavioural change, accountability and continuous monitoring 🔍 Key Takeaways - C. auris has become the leading cause of CLABSI in Kuwaiti ICUs, accounting for a third of cases. - Standard IPC bundles are insufficient for yeast transmission — adaptation is essential. - CHG decolonisation, when performed correctly, emerged as a critical component of reduction. - Rapid diagnostics and consistent screening help identify silent carriers early. Improved environmental cleaning with practical high‑level disinfectant wipes reduces contamination. - Real‑time data sharing and bedside coaching were vital for changing human behaviour. 📚 About This Webinar Series This is the first in a series of 11 IPC Insight Webinars running throughout 2026. All sessions are CPD‑accredited by the Royal College of Pathologists and aim to provide concise expert overviews, stimulate discussion and build a global community of infection prevention enthusiasts. You can see the programme of webinars and their Journal Club cousins here: https://ipcpartners.org/learn-with-us/

Dr Areej Al-Ali previews her C. auris Insight Webinar with Dr Jon Otter. Register here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/573dec59-e333-4574-96eb-f1428a9e1d49@880e1cf6-0e66-4ce3-9534-eadf2d5ded15