Culture Positive: An Infection Prevention Podcast

The Royal Jab

Ally Hunt — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 10:30:00 GMT

In this episode of Culture Positive, we're traveling back to 18th-century Russia to meet Catherine the Great and explore her surprising role in the history of immunization. From the devastating impact of smallpox to the global origins of variolation, we follow the evolution of an early method of smallpox prevention across continents and generations. We'll also explore the journey from variolation to modern vaccination and the incredible public health achievement of smallpox eradication. Because sometimes, the history of infection prevention starts with an empress willing to lead by example!

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Catherine-the-Great https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9514359/ https://collections.libraries.indiana.edu/iulibraries/s/smallpox-vaccine-exhibit/page/russian-empire https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-22/catherine-the-great-russian-empress-inoculation-thomas-dinsdale/101405692 https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/12/that-time-catherine-the-great-championed-smallpox-vaccinations/ https://historyofvaccines.org/blog/empress-immunization-how-catherine-great-revolutionized-public-health/ https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-22/catherine-the-great-russian-empress-inoculation-thomas-dinsdale/101405692 https://historyofvaccines.org/history/vaccine-timeline/overview/ https://www.cdc.gov/smallpox/about/index.html https://www.cdc.gov/smallpox/bioterrorism/index.html

Flu, COVID, RSV, Oh My!

Ally Hunt — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Respiratory season is here, whether we're ready for it or not! 🍂 In this episode of Culture Positive, we're talking all things respiratory season, including influenza, COVID-19, and RSV.

What does respiratory season mean for infection preventionists? From outbreak investigations and isolation precautions to masking, vaccines, and preventing transmission, we'll explore what these infections look like in healthcare settings and what we can do to help protect patients, healthcare workers, and the people around us.

And of course, a friendly reminder from your local IP: wash your hands, stay home when you're sick, and please, please get your flu and COVID vaccines!

https://www.tuftsmedicine.org/about-us/news/your-2026-2027-guide-respiratory-illnesses-what-know-season

https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/22/health/flu-2026-mutation

Happy IP Week!

Ally Hunt — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 09:30:00 GMT

For International Infection Prevention Week, we're talking about the things you might not find in an infection preventionist's job description!

I reached out to fellow IPs working across a variety of healthcare settings to share their experiences, unexpected challenges, and favorite parts of the job. From water management and hospital construction to navigating imposter syndrome, working with hospital leadership, and witnessing the incredible care provided by healthcare teams, this episode explores the many sides of infection prevention.

Lessons from the grave

Ally Hunt — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Happy spooky season! Check out this week’s episode to learn how soil from a priest’s grave in Northern Ireland is contributing to research on antimicrobial resistance! Who knew a grave site could hold clues that might help tackle one of today’s biggest public health challenges?

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10311-023-01651-w

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/astonishing-medical-potential-soil-northern-ireland-graveyard-180973741/

https://icars-global.org/what-we-do/threat-of-amr/

https://www.healthdata.org/news-events/insights-blog/acting-data/among-superbugs-mrsa-forefront-antimicrobial-resistance

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21655-antibiotic-resistance

https://historyireland.com/the-healing-clay-of-boho/

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-46651702

https://bio.libretexts.org/Courses/Irvine_Valley_College/IVC_Microbiology_Lab_Manual/21%3A_ANTIBIOTIC_PRODUCING_MICROBES_IN_SOIL

Ringworm in the OR?! Featuring Justin McKay

Ally Hunt — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Can lead aprons be as dirty as a gas station pump? Welcome Justin McKay to Culture Positive! Justin is the CoFounder and VP for RadCare and after a firsthand health incident exposed just how inadequate traditional lead-apron care can be, he turned that personal experience into an industry-wide safety mission. Check out the episode to learn more!

Clean Those Leads Webpage: https://radcareservices.com/clean-those-leads/
Clean Those Leads Films: https://radcareservices.com/clean-those-leads/campaign-films/
Justin McKay’s Bio Page: https://radcareservices.com/justin-mckay-bio/
RCS LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/radcare-services/?viewAsMember=true
Scientific Studies on Lead Apron Safety: https://radcareservices.com/scientific-research/

Case Files: The Kissing Cough

Ally Hunt — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 09:30:00 GMT

In this Case Files episode of Culture Positive, we’re investigating pertussis, better known as whooping cough. Ally walks you through the basics of this highly contagious respiratory illness, including how it spreads, what symptoms can look like, and why pertussis can be difficult to recognize early on.

But this episode is also personal to Ally's work in infectious diseases. She shares the story of a real pertussis investigation, including what happened when cases were identified among college students and how public health worked to understand the situation and prevent further spread.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/interactive/2026/08/24/fighting-measles-is-expensive-see-what-it-cost-contain-10-cases/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/whooping-cough/symptoms-causes/syc-20378973

https://publichealth.jhu.edu/ivac/2026/whooping-cough-vaccination-coverage-remains-below-targets

https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2171/

https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-R0.aspx

https://publichealth.jhu.edu/ivac/2026/whooping-cough-vaccination-coverage-remains-below-targets

https://www.nyas.org/ideas-insights/blog/whooping-cough-is-surging-in-the-u-s-what-you-need-to-know/

Jalapeños and the Chicken Disease

Ally Hunt — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Why does it feel like foodborne illness outbreaks are everywhere in 2026? From Cyclospora and Salmonella to E. coli, this summer has brought several major outbreaks and plenty of questions about the safety of our food supply.

In this episode of Culture Positive, GI Jane is reporting for duty again! We're breaking down recent foodborne illness outbreaks and exploring how public health funding, workforce shortages, food safety oversight, traceability, and surveillance may influence our ability to prevent and respond to outbreaks.

https://time.com/article/2026/08/26/e-coli-salmonella-cyclospora-is-the-u-s-seeing-a-surge-in-foodborne-illnesses-/

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigation-multistate-outbreak-cyclospora-illnesses-iceberg-lettuce-july-2026

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-jalapeno-august-2026

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-o145h28-frozen-blueberries-july-2026

https://www.wired.com/story/why-salmonella-cyclospora-make-americans-sick/

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/16/us-law-foodborne-illness-delay

https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma

Incision, Infection, Prevention

Ally Hunt — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Surgery has come a long way—but infection prevention has been part of that journey every step of the way. In this episode of Culture Positive, Ally takes a look at the history of surgery, what surgical site infections are, the signs and symptoms, and—most importantly—what we can do to prevent them.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05160-8

https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-history-of-surgery-timeline-3157332

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/surgical-site-infections

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/surgical-wound-infection

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1743919121002843#tbl3

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12229807/

https://www.jointcommissionjournal.com/article/S1553-7250(24)00259-9/fulltext

Professional Spotlight: RN and IP, Same Team

Ally Hunt — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 09:30:00 GMT

RNs and IPs have the same goal, why not making it more fun and work together? Join Ally and her guest, CB, an incredible nurse and advocate for patient safety! Along with being a bedside nurse and leader on a cardiac ICU at a large academic hospital, she is also a clinical instructor for the next generation of nursing. Hear them chat about the importance of IPs and bedside nurses working together and how you build that trust.

The Smallpox Conquest

Ally Hunt — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Hernán Cortés defeated the Aztecs because of Spanish military power, right? Not quite. See how an infectious disease played a devastating role in the fall of the Aztec Empire.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/smallpox/symptoms-causes/syc-20353027

https://www.indigenousmexico.org/articles/smallpox-comes-to-the-americas-1507-1524

https://www.cdc.gov/smallpox/about/history.html

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/how-smallpox-devastated-the-aztecs-and-helped-spain-conquer-an-american-civilization-500-years-ago

https://www.doaks.org/resources/online-exhibits/epidemics/epidemics-english/fall-of-tenochtitlan/smallpox

https://www.biography.com/history-culture/hernan-cortes

Ebola, Funerals and Public Health

Ally Hunt — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:30:00 GMT

What do funerals have to do with Ebola? More than you think. Check out the latest episode to learn more about active outbreak of Ebola in the DRC and how infection prevention and public health play a role in the response.

https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON615

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4709130/

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2849890

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ebola-disease

https://www.cdc.gov/viral-hemorrhagic-fevers/hcp/guidance/ppe-clinically-unstable.html https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/ebola/ebola-outbreak-now-deadliest-ever-dr-congo-death-rate-reaches-46

https://www.unrefugees.org/news/2026/7/ebola-crisis-explained/

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8p2g8yp8do

https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/08/1168174

Mother of Infection Prevention

Ally Hunt — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Lets hear if for the girl: Florence Nightingale! Hear how Florence, aka Flo, influenced not only nursing but data visualization and infection prevention!

https://www.history.com/articles/florence-nightingale

https://sruk.org.uk/florence-nightingale-and-epidemiology-a-tribute-to-health-professionals/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11373583/

https://www.choleraandthethames.co.uk/cholera-in-london/cholera-in-soho/florence-nightingale/

The Year was 2020

Ally Hunt — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Ally shares her own personal stories, along with those of other frontline staff who worked through the COVID-19 response, while highlighting the lasting impact and aftermath of the pandemic.

CIC Anxiety

Ally Hunt — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Feeling nervous about taking the Certification In Infection Control? Check out the episode for studying tricks and details on the exam itself!

https://www.cbic.org/OffNav/APIC.htm

https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/CIC-Certification/About-the-Examination.htm

https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/Candidate-Handbook/Eligibility-Guidelines.htm

https://www.ajicjournal.org/article/S0196-6553(26)00357-3/fulltext?utm_campaign=41567803-Megasurvey%2FComp+Report&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_O4BCPRIXid9iwNeox1tNy2dVWU-El7TzMcJod3jwhVTQC5WWmZCrTh5fVEFzAZVYp8VUXnkioVeybRHyzuAjQOtjx8w&_hsmi=411560313&utm_content=411560313&utm_source=hs_email

https://youtube.com/@cicepidemiologists6403?si=Q80VWgXg5toZxoRJ

Measles: Eliminated Until It Wasn't

Ally Hunt — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000- it is back in full force. Tune in to learn about the history of measles, what outbreaks are looking like today and background work that can take place in a healthcare setting to safely see a patient with measles.

https://www.cdc.gov/pinkbook/hcp/table-of-contents/chapter-13-measles.html

https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/history-of-vaccination/history-of-measles-vaccination https://www.kff.org/medicaid/kindergarten-routine-vaccination-rates-continue-to-decline/

https://www.cdc.gov/measles/vaccines/index.html

Paging Infection Prevention

Ally Hunt — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Ally takes you behind the scenes of what a typical day can look like if you work in infection prevention. From unexpected pager calls, isolation review to device rounds and more! Every day is different, and everyday is about keeping patients safe. Resources mentioned in the episode can be found below.

https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/hcp/isolation-precautions/appendix-a-type-duration.html

https://share.google/FjiYoiEb7IVkSwYtm

https://www.ashe.org/icra2

GI Jane vs. Cyclospora

Ally Hunt — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Hear Ally, a former GI Jane, talk about the history of cyclospora, role of public health surveillance with foodborne illnesses, and what the current outbreak in the US looks like as of July 10th, 2026.

Resources used for todays episode:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17957-cyclosporiasis

https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/keep-mi-healthy/infectious-diseases/infectious-disease-outbreaks

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cdc-quietly-scaled-back-surveillance-program-foodborne-illnesses-rcna227089

https://www.nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource/Preventing-Foodborne-Illness-Cyclospora-cayetanensis.pdf

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cyclospora-outbreak-diarrhea-parasite-michigan/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11803675/

https://www.cdc.gov/foodnet/about/index.html

Professional Spotlight: Columbus did what?

Ally Hunt — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Curious how someone went from studying Anthropology to being an Infection Preventionist? Check out our first Professional Spotlight with Kayleigh Sandhu Bajaj where we discuss her background, proud moments in infection prevention and a little history lesson on Christopher Columbus.

Please find reading recommendations from Kayleigh here:

1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C Mann

Infections and Inequalities by Paul Farmer

It's a Bird! No, it's the Plague

Ally Hunt — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Want to hear why Ally has a fear of birds? Did you watch the movie Hamnet and wonder what happened to that sweet boy? Check out the latest episode on the Black Death aka the Plague!

References for the episode:

https://www.history.com/articles/black-death

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21590-bubonic-plague

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Plague_of_London

https://www.oerproject.com/OER-Materials/OER-Media/HTML-Articles/Origins/Unit6/Trade-Networks-and-the-Black-Death

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/plague

https://www.thecollector.com/how-many-people-died-from-the-black-plague/

https://www.jelsciences.com/articles/jbres1422.php

What in the Hanta?

Ally Hunt — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Curious about the virus that caused a cruise ship to make front page news?

In this episode of Culture Positive, Ally explores hantavirus, the outbreak that occurred aboard a cruise ship, and the aftermath; offering a closer look into what happens when an outbreak unfolds and how public health professionals respond.

Please see resources used for the episode below:

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/expert-qa/hantavirus

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hantavirus

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-hantavirus-spread-through-the-air-what-we-do-and-dont-know/

https://apnews.com/article/hantavirus-cruise-ship-timeline-events-b9eb3985b547758b1e42dbab6ceb3887

https://www.unmc.edu/healthsecurity/expertise/why-nebraska.html

https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/2-more-cruise-ship-passengers-leave-omaha-quarantine-after-deadly-hantavirus-outbreak/

https://www.unmc.edu/healthsecurity/expertise/why-nebraska.html

Before Infection Prevention Had a Name

Ally Hunt — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:22:12 GMT

How did infection prevention become a profession? And who are the people doing the work today?

In this episode of Culture Positive, Ally explores the history of infection prevention, the milestones that shaped the field, and the many backgrounds that lead professionals into infection prevention today.

Please see resources used for this episode below:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7119047/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7151947/

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/clabsi

https://www.ahrq.gov/hai/pfp/haccost2017-results.html

https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/the-shifting-responsibilities-infection-preventionists