On Feb. 7, 2025, the Fairfax County Health Department welcomed partners from local skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) to its annual Skilled Nursing Facility Symposium. This full-day event provided an opportunity for healthcare professionals to enhance their infection prevention and control (IPC) skills, exchange best practices, and strengthen regional collaboration. 

“The symposium, and the health department’s collaboration with SNFs throughout the year, reflect the value we and our partners place on protecting some of the county’s most vulnerable residents from seasonal threats like flu and ongoing challenges such as multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs),” said Dr. Benjamin Schwartz, Fairfax County Health Department’s director of epidemiology. “It’s been great to see relationships continue to deepen and participation in the symposium grow each year.” 

Since its inception in 2018, the symposium has served as a key resource for SNF staff, offering expert-led sessions on emerging public health concerns, regulatory compliance, and quality improvement initiatives. This year’s event focused on pressing issues such as respiratory illness updates, antimicrobial stewardship, and improving hospital-SNF communication. 

Attendees engaged in discussions on COVID-19 vaccination compliance, laboratory specimen collection, and strategies for managing multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). Other highlights included sessions on Candida auris prevention, enhanced barrier precautions, and the importance of education in infection control. 

The Fairfax County Health Department extends its gratitude to all speakers and participants for making the 2025 Skilled Nursing Facility Symposium a success. We look forward to continuing this tradition of learning, collaboration, and innovation in the years to come. 

Learn more about local public health and the Fairfax County Health Department.