IHA Daily Briefing: October 19

International Infection Prevention Week Oct. 19-25

International Infection Prevention Week is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the vital work of infection prevention professionals and the impact they have on patient and community health every day. IHA would like to recognize our members for their unwavering commitment to infection prevention and patient safety. Infection preventionists play a critical role in protecting patients, healthcare workers, and communities by preventing healthcare-associated infections, responding to outbreaks, and addressing the ongoing challenges posed by infectious diseases. We are grateful for your expertise, dedication, and leadership in safeguarding the health and well-being of those you serve. Thank you for all you do to keep your patients, colleagues, families, and communities safe.

Illinois Disease Surveillance System Provider Portal Office Hour Oct. 22

The Illinois Dept. of Public Health announced it will host an Illinois Disease Surveillance System (IDSS) provider portal office hour on Oct. 22 from 1-2 p.m. CT to provide an opportunity for portal users to:

• Ask questions about using the IDSS provider portal.
• Receive clarification and guidance on provider portal processes.
• Discuss questions or challenges they have encountered.
• Get additional support as they become more familiar with the provider portal.

Click here to register.

Recording Available of AHA Webinar with HHS, CMS on Hospital Food Pledge

A recording of an American Hospital Association (AHA) webinar held on the U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services' (HHS) voluntary Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge is available here. During the session, officials from HHS and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provided an overview of the pledge, discussed hospital participation, addressed frequently asked questions, and shared promising practices from hospitals working to create healthier food environments for patients, employees, and visitors.

Disruption of Cybercriminal Businesses Supporting Attacks on Healthcare, Others

Microsoft and Health-ISAC recently announced the disruption of cybercriminal businesses that provided services to threat actors that attacked more than 75,000 organizations worldwide, including healthcare. The businesses were part of a wider, Chinese-language cybercriminal marketplace supplying malicious services to threat actors around the world. Investigators worked together to seize and redirect domains for infrastructure operating the three criminal businesses, YAM Store, CoGUI and Iron Man. They determined that since January 2026 the businesses have collectively enabled more than 1 billion malicious messages, including more than 750 million messages geared toward Microsoft customers alone. These messages have been used to target consumers, healthcare organizations, financial institutions, and other businesses in more than 150 countries, generating tens of millions of dollars for their operators. A blog from Microsoft Threat Intelligence shares more details on the network, as well as steps customers can take to protect themselves.

Illinois Respiratory Disease Surveillance Data

The Infectious Respiratory Disease Surveillance Dashboard from the Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) provides the latest data on hospital visits, seasonal trends, lab test positivity and demographic data. IDPH also tracks COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus information through the Illinois Wastewater Surveillance System dashboard.

Briefly Noted

Edwards Lifesciences is recommending certain delivery systems used for SAPIEN M3 transcatheter mitral valve replacement be removed from where they are used or sold following three reports of balloons bursting during inflation. As of Oct. 5, Edwards Lifesciences has reported one death and one serious injury associated with this issue.

Leading the News

Sinai Chicago Prepares for Medicaid Changes and Healthcare Innovation with Thomasina Wilkins

Becker's Hospital Review

In this episode, Thomasina Wilkins, Chief Revenue Officer, Sinai Chicago, discusses preparing for Medicaid changes in 2027, reducing healthcare disparities, strengthening financial sustainability and using AI to improve clinical operations and patient financial services.

Four red flags and one truth amid the peptide hype

KFF

Experimental peptides have become darlings among influencers, chiropractors, and doctors focused on longevity, antiaging, or "body optimization," even though the FDA hasn't approved them for safety or effectiveness. Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other leaders of the Make America Healthy Again movement have pushed to make unproven peptides more accessible - and they've gained traction.

Women have searched for perimenopause relief. Doctors say it's under-recognized

WAND

Perimenopause is defined as the phase when the ovaries gradually produce less estrogen. It can begin anywhere from eight to 10 years before menopause. It remains under-recognized both among the medical community and the women who experience it.

He didn't know he had Lyme disease. How cases are rising in the Midwest

WAND

Richard Dolnik spent much of his free time running on trails, training for marathons. Now he avoids the woods and tall grass because of his fear of a disease that can be transmitted by ticks. Dolnik is recovering from Lyme disease, an infection that early on can include fever, headache, joint and muscle pain and a rash. That's how it started for him.