Return of the MythBusters! Common Environmental Hygiene Accreditation and Regulatory Misconceptions

Session Description: There are infinite misconceptions—or shall we say “MYTH-conceptions?”—surrounding environmental hygiene from a regulatory and accreditation perspective. Deciphering the differences between rules, requirements, recommendations and true evidence-based best practices is exceptionally challenging for Infection Preventionists (IPs) of any experience level. Fear not! This year, based on overwhelmingly positive feedback from the 2025 national APIC conference interactive session, the environmental hygiene MythBusters return!
What does an IP do when faced with potential environmental hygiene-related accreditation and regulatory citations? Accept the infraction without question? Or learn to professionally challenge (often subjective and sometimes incorrect) surveyor citations by using professional guidance documents, peer-reviewed evidence, and regulatory language to achieve successful inspection without compromising patient safety? After attending this session, attendees will confidently be able to perform the latter!
Our environmental hygiene MythBusters have compiled a comprehensive list of frequently asked cleaning and disinfection questions and common (and not-so-common) accreditation conundrums, from determining appropriate contact times to when two-step cleaning and disinfection is truly mandated. We will clarify guidance on tricky wickets like Cryptosporidium and Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease (CJD). We will tackle daunting topics such as routine floor disinfection in isolation patient rooms and when tuberculocidal (or intermediate) level disinfection is truly needed. Do you know the difference between a horizontal drain disinfectant claim and wet biofilm disinfectant claim? You will after attending our MythBusting session!
Based on the success of last year’s live, interactive MythBuster experience, we will use audience polling to assess how participants would react and respond to sample scenarios and case studies. We will use existing guidance and regulatory requirements to either confirm or bust common regulatory and accreditation environmental hygiene myths, while building much-needed confidence in novice and intermediate level IPs. Most importantly, attendees will laugh as they learn—a much needed reprieve during a three-days long conference!

Rebecca Battjes

Senior Clinical Advisor, Diversey - A Solenis Company

Rebecca Battjes (pronounced “batches”) MPH, CIC, FAPIC is an industry-based Infection Preventionist for Diversey–A Solenis Company. In this role, Rebecca serves as an infection prevention resource and industry liaison to support the improvement of environmental hygiene solutions and the adoption of evidence–based practices. Prior to joining Diversey in 2022, Rebecca was the lone infection preventionist at a small community hospital and short-stay skilled nursing facility. From 2013 to 2021, she was an Infection Preventionist at a large academic medical & level 1 trauma center in the heart of Detroit. Rebecca earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English & Spanish literature from Wayne State University and a Master of Public Health from Benedictine University in Illinois. Rebecca achieved board certification in infection control (CIC®) in 2019 and became a fellow on APIC in 2022. As an educator, Rebecca strives to create unique, interactive, engaging content for infection prevention audiences.

Karen McGoldrick

Infection Preventionist, Sentara Leigh Hospital

Karen McGoldrick, MT (ASCP), CIC, CHOP, Infection Preventionist, Sentara Leigh Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia Karen has 18 years of experience in the field of Infection Prevention & Control with Sentara Healthcare, 14 of those years at Sentara Leigh Hospital and and the other four at Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center. Karen has a BS degree in Microbiology from Texas A&M University and a BS in Medical Technology from the University of Texas at Tyler. She has been a member of the APIC Virginia Chapter Board for 16 years serving in multiple postions, incuding Chapter President in 2017, and is currently Awards chair. Karen is also a currently chair of Coastal Virginia Infection Preventionists and Epidemiologists and is serving a three year term on APIC's Annual Conference Committee. Her passion is partnering with healthcare workers to prevent healthcare associated infections and improving patient safety.

Noreen Mollon

Infection Prevention and Epidemiology Manager, University of Michigan Health

Noreen Mollon is a manager in the Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology at University of Michigan Health. She joined the team in February of 2020. Prior to her role at UMH, she spent nearly 15 years working in public health holding several positions including tuberculosis epidemiologist and infection prevention consultant. During her time as IP consultant, she helped healthcare facilities across the continuum of care prepare for special pathogens and helped educate on infection prevention standards. She has a BS in microbiology from University of Michigan and MS in epidemiology from Michigan State University.