Infection preventionists' current and preferred training strategies and tools.

Background: Educating health care staff on infection prevention and control (IPC) is an essential role of infection preventionists (IPs), but the COVID-19 pandemic diverted resources away from IPC education.

Methods: Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology members were invited to complete an online survey from spring 2023 to assess current and preferred approaches and tools for training health care personnel on IPC. Vendors, retirees, APIC staff, or those not working in health care or public health were excluded.

A survey of state and local practices encouraging pediatric COVID-19 vaccination of children ages 6 months through 11 years.

Objective: This report highlights state and local practices for optimizing the pediatric COVID-19 vaccination program for children ages 6 months through 11 years.

Methods: State and local practices designed to optimize pediatric COVID-19 vaccine uptake were identified from a range of sources, including immunization program, CDC, and partner staff; and media stories or program descriptions identified via online searches.

Results: A range of practices were identified across different categories: provider-focused practices, school-based practices, jurisdiction or health department-based activities, community-focused practices involving partners, use of vaccination incentives, and Medicaid-related practices.

"Know Hepatitis B:" A Multilingual Communications Campaign Promoting Testing for Hepatitis B Among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

The "Know Hepatitis B" campaign was the first national, multilingual communications campaign to promote testing for hepatitis B virus (HBV) among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). This population comprises fewer than 5% of the total U.S.

"Know More Hepatitis:" CDC's National Education Campaign to Increase Hepatitis C Testing Among People Born Between 1945 and 1965.

In 2012, CDC issued recommendations calling for those born between 1945 and 1965, or baby boomers, to get tested for the hepatitis C virus. To help implement this recommendation, CDC developed "Know More Hepatitis," a multimedia national education campaign. Guided by behavioral science theories and formative research, the campaign used multiple strategies to reach baby boomers and health-care providers with messages encouraging baby boomers to get tested for hepatitis C.

Examining the relevance of the physician's clinical assessment and the reliance on computed tomography in diagnosing acute appendicitis.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the relevance of clinical assessment in diagnosing appendicitis in the current medical environment, in which routine use of computed tomography (CT) has become the norm.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted, analyzing patient demographics, Alvarado clinical assessment scoring, and radiologic and pathologic results.

Results: A total of 664 patients were identified.

Lessons learned from exploratory research about viral hepatitis.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted exploratory research as part of planning a national education campaign to raise awareness about viral hepatitis in the United States. The purpose of this qualitative research was to assess the baseline knowledge, attitudes, and screening behaviors of four population groups. Sixteen focus groups were conducted during a 6-week period in the fall of 2009, with a total of 119 adults aged 35 to 60 years in Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; and Houston, Texas.