This issue covers some of the most significant news from May. Topics include Joint Commission standards, vaccinate mandate, nursing home and SNF surveys, SHEA guidance, and antibiotic stewardship.

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Joint Commission Infection Control Standards Among the Most Challenging in 2020 — The Joint Commission issued its top 5 most challenging requirements for 2020. Once again appearing on multiple programs' lists: infection control standards.

Phenelle Segal on the Healthcare Worker COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Conundrum — Read the position of ICCS Founder Phenelle Segal on this widely debated topic.

Pandemic Reawakens Urgency About Infection Control and Prevention — ICCS's Phenelle Segal is one of the sources featured in this Nurse.com article on the pandemic's effects on infection control and prevention.

Skilled Nursing Facility Surveys Skyrocket During Pandemic — Federal data indicates the number of surveys conducted nationwide has risen 132% since 2020 and there has been a "dramatic increase" in infection control surveys and more immediate jeopardy-level citations.

'High Stakes' as Providers Still Face Brisk Infection Control Surveys, Brace for Return of Standard Inspections — An analysis shows that when nursing homes are dinged for infection-related deficiencies, they are facing stiffer penalties than they do on typical surveys.

Healthcare Personnel Must Continue SARS-CoV-2 Prevention, Even as Community Guidelines Relax — Sound guidance from the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

Cleveland Clinic Finds 99.7% of Caregivers Who've Recently Tested Positive for Covid-19 Weren't Fully Vaccinated — Powerful data reinforces the effectiveness of vaccines for preventing symptomatic infections, severe illnesses, and hospitalizations.

AAP: Masks Encouraged for Camp, Child Care, School to Prevent COVID-19 — The American Academy of Pediatrics issued updated COVID-19 clinical interim guidance.

Implementation of Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship in Nursing Homes — Nursing homes reported substantial progress in antibiotic stewardship implementation from 2016 to 2018.

Veterinarians' Smartphones, Tablets Contaminated With Staphylococci — New research shows the importance of cleaning smartphones and tablets regardless of whether you're caring for people or animals.