Even though hand hygiene remains one of the most effective infection control measures against the spread of infectious disease, compliance in healthcare settings continues to fall short worldwide. Why is something so simple still so difficult to sustain?

In this episode, Wayne Tucker explores the complex human, cultural, and system-level factors behind missed hand hygiene opportunities. From busy clinical environments and glove overreliance to gaps in leadership visibility and feedback culture, each segment examines why compliance remains a challenge not only in Nova Scotia and Canada, but across the globe.

Wayne also discusses how rapid workflow, poor technique, and short application times often lead to missed areas of the hands. He highlights evidence-based strategies to strengthen daily practice: real-time feedback, peer modelling, improved accessibility, and supportive leadership that normalizeshand hygiene as an expected professional reflex rather than a monitored task.

The episode closes with a key message: improving hand hygiene isn’t a campaign — it’s a cultural movement. When healthcare organizations combine strong systems, positive reinforcement, and human-centered design, hand hygiene performance becomes part of the DNA of safe care.

Hosted by Wayne Tucker, The Infection Control Exchange.

In this episode of The Infection Control Exchange, host Wayne Tucker explores what it truly means to build an Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) culture that goes beyond policies and procedures.

From leadership visibility to staff engagement, Wayne discusses how strong IPAC cultures are reflected in daily practice, not just written standards and policies. He shares real-world insights from long-term care and healthcare leadership—illustrating how small, consistent actions shape safer environments for residents, patients, and staff.

Topics include:

• - Defining what “IPAC culture” really means in practice

• - The role of leadership visibility, recognition, and modelling behaviour

  - Overcoming common barriers like compliance fatigue and communication gaps

  - Sustaining engagement and collaboration for IPAC beyond outbreak periods to be part of daily routines to protect vulnerable residents and patients.

  
  Whether you’re an IPAC professional, quality leader, or healthcare manager, this episode will inspire reflection on how to strengthen infection prevention culture across your team or organization.

  Listen now and join the IPAC conversation.

In this episode of Infection Control Exchange, Wayne Tucker explores what’s working — and what still needs improvement — in infection prevention and control across healthcare environments. Drawing from experience and data, he discusses real-world challenges, system gaps, and examples of successful practices that are making a measurable difference in patient and staff safety.

🎧 Host: Wayne Tucker, MSc, EMBA, LTC-CIP, CIC

💡 Theme: Leadership, infection control, quality, and lessons learned from the field

National Infection Control Week (NICW)

To celebrate NICW (Oct 20–24, 2025), I share simple ways teams can engage—daily micro-activities, friendly contests, and quick wins that keep hand hygiene and donning/doffing PPE awareness top-of-mind while protecting residents, patients, and colleagues. It is an opportunity this week to draw attention to the critical role of infection control in reducing the transmission of infectious diseases within facilities like hospitals, long-term care homes, etc. We all play a daily role in infection control, which protects vulnerable residents and patients.

Keywords: infection control, infection prevention, IPAC, patient safety, outbreak management, hand hygiene, healthcare leadership, Halifax, public health

Welcome to the debut episode of The Infection Control Exchange, a podcast dedicated to advancing infection prevention, control, and healthcare quality improvement.

In this first episode, host Wayne Tucker, BA, MSc (Psych), EMBA, MSc (IPAC), CIC, LTC-CIP shares his journey through infection prevention and control — from his early experiences to his leadership roles across acute care, public health, primary care and long-term care environments. Wayne reflects on lessons learned, professional milestones, and the evolving standards that continue to shape infection prevention practice across Canada and beyond.

The discussion also highlights the ongoing importance of vaccines — both COVID-19 and influenza — in healthcare and community protection. Wayne explores vaccine uptake, challenges in public perception, and how infection control professionals can support evidence-based dialogue with staff, residents, patients, and families.Listeners will also get a preview of upcoming episodes covering:

• Outbreak preparedness and the essential role of front-line teams during respiratory virus season.
• Measuring outbreak control and transmission indicators as markers of success.
• Wayne’s master’s dissertation findings on infection control auditing — including hand hygiene and PPE compliance during outbreak versus non-outbreak periods (2023–2024).
• Common deficiencies identified through auditing, and how organizations can translate findings into better education, training, and prevention practices.

Whether you’re an infection control professional, healthcare leader, or someone passionate about quality and safety, The Infection Control Exchange aims to connect practice with purpose. Expect authentic conversations, evidence-informed discussions, and practical insights that strengthen the collective work of infection prevention professionals.

🎧 Host: Wayne Tucker, BA, MSc (Psych), EMBA, MSc (IPAC), CIC, LTC-CIP

🎙️ Episode: 1 – Introduction and Vaccines

📍 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

💡 The Infection Control Exchange — Conversations that advance infection prevention, leadership, and healthcare quality.