Infection prevention and control is often viewed as the responsibility of IPAC teams—but in reality, successful IPAC programs depend on alignment among key internal and external stakeholders across the entire healthcare system.

In this episode of The Infection Control Exchange Podcast, we explore the critical role of both internal and external stakeholders in shaping IPAC outcomes.

From frontline staff and physicians to leadership, environmental services, facilities teams, and public health partners—each group plays a vital role in reducing risk and supporting safe care environments.

We also examine common breakdowns in stakeholder engagement and how healthcare leaders can strengthen relationships, improve communication, and build shared accountability across the system.

This episode is designed for healthcare leaders, infection prevention professionals, and anyone involved in delivering safe, high-quality care.

Outbreak Line Listing: Why the Details Matter in Infection Prevention and Control

In this episode of The Infection Control Exchange Podcast, we take a deep dive into one of the most important—and often underappreciated—tools in outbreak management: the line list.

Using an outbreak scenario, this episode walks through the structure of a line list and explains how each data element contributes to effective outbreak control.

Topics covered include:

• Case identification and unit tracking• Symptom documentation and baseline considerations• The importance of symptom onset timelines• Intervention tracking, including vaccination and antiviral• Identifying complications and severity indicators• Interpreting laboratory test results• Common mistakes that impact outbreak response

Line lists are more than documentation—they are the foundation for surveillance, decision-making, and communication during outbreaks.

This episode is particularly relevant for IPAC professionals, acute care teams, long-term care teams, and public health practitioners.

Why Healthcare Workers Should Never Work While Sick

In this episode of The Infection Control Exchange Podcast, Wayne Tucker explores an important but often overlooked infection prevention risk in healthcare settings: staff working while sick.

While healthcare workers are deeply committed to their patients/residents and colleagues, reporting to work with symptoms can unintentionally increase the risk of respiratory viruses and other infectious diseases transmission within healthcare settings, and could lead to an outbreak.

In this 15-minute episode, Wayne discusses:

• Why presenteeism remains common in healthcare organizations

• The infection prevention risks associated with symptomatic staff

• How workplace culture and staffing pressures can influence decision-making

• The critical role of leadership in reinforcing safe practices

• Why protecting patients, residents, and colleagues must always be the priority

This episode highlights how everyday decisions made by healthcare workers play a key role in preventing the spread of infections within healthcare settings.