Transmission Interrupted

On this episode of Transmission Interrupted, host Jill Morgan dives deep into the world of personal protective equipment (PPE) for EMS professionals. Jill is joined by Chad Bowman, Nurse Manager for the Johns Hopkins Lifeline Critical Care Transport Team, and Elizabeth "Liz" Lenz, Captain with Denver Health Paramedic Division. Together, they tackle the unique challenges EMS teams face in keeping t...

In this episode of  Transmission Interrupted , host Jill Morgan sits down with Angie Vasa—one of NETEC’s seasoned experts in special pathogens preparedness. Together, they take a deep dive into the Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) Preparedness Checklist: a practical, accessible tool designed to help any healthcare facility—from small rural clinics to large urban hospitals—prepare for the challenges o...

In this episode of Transmission Interrupted, join host Jill Morgan and special guests Syra Madad, Darrell Ruby, and Tim Scholten for a practical, nationwide look at drills and exercises in special pathogen preparedness. The group breaks down the difference between drills and exercises, shares real-world stories from hospitals across the U.S., and offers advice on implementing effective, HSEEP-comp...

On this episode of Transmission Interrupted , host Jill Morgan of Emory University Hospital is joined by Jade Flinn from Johns Hopkins Hospital and waste management experts Ashley Perry from Daniels Health, and Alex Chapman and Cara Simaga from Stericycle. Together, they unpack the practical and regulatory challenges of managing “Category A” infectious waste generated during the care of patients w...

Frontline Connections: Strengthening Our Resilience In honor of May’s National Nurses Week, EMS Week, Hospital Week, and more, Transmission Interrupted celebrates the frontline professionals who stand at the crossroads of care, safety, and preparedness. In this special episode, host Jill Morgan is joined by a panel of experts from across the country: Tristan Twohig, an emergency department nurse f...

In this episode, host Jill Morgan explores essential steps for a safe vacation, highlighting the risks of unexpected illnesses while traveling. She’s joined by Dr. Henry Wu, associate professor of infectious diseases at Emory University and director of the Emory TravelWell Center, and Dr. Laura Dickson, assistant professor in UTMB’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Together, they discuss...

The New Joint Commission Standards, PPE, and Me On this episode of Transmission Interrupted, join Jill Morgan from Emory University Hospital and Brooke Henriksen from Sacred Heart in Spokane, Washington, as they take a deeper dive into key discussions from the recent NETEC webinar, The New Joint Commission Standards, PPE, and Me. Building on the webinar’s key takeaways, this episode focuses on the...

Navigating CCHF: Risks, Prevention, and Health Care Precautions In this episode of Transmission Interrupted, host Jill Morgan, explores the complex world of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) alongside two esteemed guests: Dr. Dennis Bente, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at The University of Texas Medical Branch, and Dr. Saima Ali, Head of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the...

In this episode, NETEC’s Jill Morgan is joined by Dr. Joshua Wong, an internal medicine physician, an officer with the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and a medical officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Dengue Branch, to unpack the complexities of dengue and its global impact. As dengue cases reach record highs, they discuss the challenge of differenti...

In this episode of Transmission Interrupted, Lauren Sauer, an associate professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and director of the Special Pathogens Research Network with NETEC, dives deep into the current state of H5N1 wastewater testing and surveillance with Dr. Jana Broadhurst. Dr. Broadhurst, an associate professor in the UNMC College of Medicine and medical director at the Neb...

Marburg Virus Disease Update In this episode of Transmission Interrupted, host Jill Morgan is joined by infectious disease expert Dr. Nahid Bhadelia to discuss the current Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak in Rwanda. Recorded on October 17, 2024, this conversation delves into vital aspects including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by healthcare workers dealing with the outbreak....

Pathogens in Pop Culture: Pandemic and Play - A Board Game Journey with Matt Leacock Join NETEC hosts Lauren Sauer and Rachel Lookadoo for this special episode of Transmission Interrupted as the Pathogens in Pop Culture series continues. In this episode, Lauren and Rachel delve into the world of tabletop gaming with special guest Matt Leacock, renowned board game designer and creator of the widely...

In this episode of Transmission Interrupted, we continue our Pathogens in Pop Culture series with an intriguing dive into the world of special pathogens in literature. Dr. Caitlin Rivers, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, joins us to examine the science behind the use of special pathogens in popular literature. We'll also examine the importance of adhering to reality...

On this episode of Transmission Interrupted, we delve into the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) and its importance in responding to special pathogens and other emergencies. Join host Jill Morgan and special guests Kyesha Turner from Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Darrell Ruby from Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital in Spokane, Washington, and Ryan Tuckmeye...

Pathogens in Pop Culture: Jack Ryan, The Hot Zone , and Ebola In episode two of the Pathogens in Pop Culture series, hosts Lauren Sauer and Rachel Lookadoo welcome guest Dr. Billy Fischer to discuss the portrayal of Ebola Virus Disease in the 2018 Jack Ryan TV series and Richard Preston's 1994 novel, The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story . Together, they will explore the science behind the virus,...

Pathogens in Pop Culture: Fungal Pathogens and The Last of Us Could a fungus cause the next pandemic? If you’ve watched HBO’s hit series ‘The Last of Us’ or played the popular video game, then you may be familiar with the concept: a mass outbreak of an infectious fungus turns humans into zombies. But could the scenario played out in ‘The Last of Us’ actually happen in real life? Join hosts Lauren...

NETEC Guidance on Breach of PPE Join NETEC's Jill Morgan and members of the NETEC PPE Workgroup as they discuss the risks associated with PPE Breaches in special pathogen situations. The group will touch on PPE considerations for individuals and teams in biocontainment unit environments, including the importance of preparing health care workers to assess risks and safely respond to a breach. Quest...

Back to the Basics - Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers and PPE In this episode of Transmission Interrupted, NETEC hosts Jill Morgan and Trish Tennill go back to the basics of viral hemorrhagic fevers and personal protective equipment. They discuss four of the most serious and deadly viral hemorrhagic fevers: Ebola, Marburg, Lassa, and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fevers. While cases in the U.S. are rare, rece...

Mpox Testing in Your Laboratory Join us for this episode of Transmission Interrupted as we start a new series dedicated to the laboratory community. Mpox continues to be in the news as cases rise across the country. Have you ever wondered what happens behind the laboratory curtain? How do laboratories adjust to the changing demands when a new special pathogen appears? With us today for this specia...

Lassa Fever: a Summary for Clinicians On this episode of Transmission Interrupted, we welcome Dr. Jared Evans, Dr. Aneesh Mehta, and Dr. Vanessa Rabbe—members of NETEC’s Special Pathogen Research Network—to discuss their recent manuscript entitled, “Lassa Virus Infection: a Summary for Clinicians.” Developed from a clinical perspective, this manuscript provides clinicians with a condensed, accessi...

Back to Basics: PPE and Mpox A recent European outbreak of mpox has captured the global healthcare community’s attention. As cases overseas continue to rise, the first cases of mpox in the United States have recently been confirmed. With healthcare organizations across the country preparing to care for patients infected with the mpox virus, now is the right time for facilities to review their Infe...

To meet the growing needs of the Long-Term Care community, NETEC has developed a Personal Protective Equipment educational resource for Long-Term Care Facilities. Targeted toward all professionals in Long-Term Care, from administration to frontline workers, this resource will allow facilities to learn or refresh their knowledge on critical concepts of PPE management and use. Join NETEC host Jill M...