7TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS - IACS 2025
Challenges and Innovation in Infection Control
22, 23 and 24
OCTOBER 2025
Europarque Congress Centre, Santa Maria da Feira
Registration ends on 17 October 2025 at 23:59.
Abstracts should be sent to sdib@essnortecvp.pt with the abstract template by 08 September.
NEW SUBMISSION DATE! 26th september 2025
Best Oral Communication Award: 300€
Best Poster Award: €200
ARIXMED SUPPORT
RESEARCH AWARD
Healthcare Associated Infections
700€ prize
Application period: 1st to 30th September 2025
Send to sec.dir@essnortecvp.pt
WELCOME IACS 2025!
Fernanda Príncipe, PhD
President IACS
Salete Mota, RN I
ACS Organisation
We look forward to seeing you again in Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal, for the 7th IACS 2025 International Congress, which will take place on 22, 23 and 24 October 2025. Today, IACS has become a registered and trusted brand in the national and international domain, with an average of 1100 participants. We can count on the presence of renowned national and international experts in a high-quality scientific programme made up of conferences, panels, workshops, symposia and networking sessions, among other modalities.
ABOUT
IACS 2025 is the 7th International Congress on "Challenges and Innovation in Infection Control" for hospital healthcare professionals (Doctors, Nurses, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technicians, Senior Healthcare Technicians, Hospital Administrators, Pharmacists, Microbiologists, among others) which will take place from 22 to 24 October 2025.
Explore new challenges in the approach to infection control through the multi-professional sharing of knowledge and experience in the prevention and control of HCAI and antibiotic resistance, combined with technological and analytical innovation.
We look forward to welcoming you back to Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal, for the 7th International Congress "Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)", which will be held from 22 to 24 October 2025. Organised by the Escola Superior de Saúde Norte da Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa (ESSNorteCVP) and the Local Health Unit of Entre Douro e Vouga, IACS2025 was conceived with the aim of promoting the multiprofessional sharing of knowledge and experiences in the prevention and control of Healthcare-Associated Infections and antibiotic resistance. To this end, we will be able to count on the presence of renowned national and international experts as part of a high-quality scientific programme.
WE'RE COUNTING ON YOU!
#iacs2025
PROGRAMME
22nd October 2025
16h00-19h00
S6: Pre-Congress course: "Vascular Access Management"
José Martinez & Diana Ramada (IPOPFG, EPE, Portugal)
14h00-18h00
S7: Pre-Congress course: "Research: from analysing data to disseminating results"
Liliana Mota (ESSNorteCVP, CINTESIS@RISE, Portugal)
14h00-18h00
S8: Pre-Congress course: "Statistics applied to infection control"
Manuela Ferreira (ESSNorteCVP, CINTESIS@RISE, Portugal)
14h00-18h00
S9: Pre-Congress Course: "Wounds, Healing Process, and Wound Treatment Resources" SUPPORTED BY ARIXMED
Gilberto Figueiredo (ULS Leiria Region, Portugal)
Participation in the Pre-Congress Courses requires registration in the course itself. 25 Limited places! Certificate issued upon attendance.
23rd October 2025
08h00
Accreditation of participants
09h30-10h00
SA: Inaugural Conference: From Prevention to Stewardship: An Integrated Implementation that Creates Value
Ana Lebre (Directorate-General for Health, Portugal)
Moderator: Henrique Pereira (ESSNorteCVP)
10h00-10h45
SA: Opening session
Ana Paula Martins (Minister of Health)
Amadeu Albergaria (President of Santa Maria da Feira City Council)
Maria do Carmo Neves (Member of the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Red Cross)
Miguel Paiva (Chairman of the Board of Directors ULSEDV)
Henrique Pereira (Chairman of the Board of Directors of ESSNorteCVP)
Cultural moment
10h45-11h00
SA: Conference: Oral Hygiene: The Low-Tech, High-Impact Solution to Pneumonia Prevention
Martin Kiernan (Visiting Clinical Fellow, University of West London, United Kingdom)
Moderator: Salete Mota (ULSEDV, Portugal)
11h00-11h30
Coffee Break
11h30-12h30
SA: Panel: Stop Infection in the ICU, it's possible after all!
Implementation of the Stop 2.0 Project
Andrea Silva (ULSEDV, Portugal)
Prevention of Bladder Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection
Isilda Borges (ULSEDV, Portugal)
Prevention of Central Venous Catheter Related Infection
Sílvia Santos (ULSEDV, Portugal)
Moderator: Sara Pereira (ULSEDV, Portugal)
11h30-12h30
S6: Panel: Febrile Neutropenia - an overview
Introduction, definition, clinic, complementary diagnostic tests
Marta Brandão Calçada (ULSEDV, Portugal)
Treatment
António José Cruz (ULS-São João, Portugal)
Nursing care for people with NF in an outpatient setting
Ana Paula Ferreira (ULSEDV, Portugal)
Nursing care for people with NF in an intensive care setting
Diogo Peixoto (ULSEDV, Portugal)
Moderator: Rafael Marques (ULSEDV, Portugal)
11h30-12h30
S7: Panel: Interlocutors: Challenges of Practice and Evidence
Teacher's Perspective
Filipe Santos (ESEnfC, Portugal)
Manager's Perspective
Rosário Pereira (ULSSA, Portugal)
Researcher's Perspective
Alexandra Fernandes (ICBAS e ULSSA, Portugal)
Moderator: Ana Teixeira (ULSSA, Portugal)
11h30-12h30
S8: Panel: Antibiotic Approach in the Oncology Context
Antibiotic Decision-Making in Palliative Care
Jorge Castro (Fundação Champalimaud, Portugal)
Antimicrobial Stewardship in Oncology
Albertina Nunes (Fundação Champalimaud, Portugal)
Organizational Challenges in the Autologous Transplant Context
Margarida Fevereiro (Fundação Champalimaud, Portugal)
Moderator: Alípio Araújo (Fundação Champalimaud, Portugal)
11h30-12h30
S9: Panel: Innovation in the Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections Associated with Bladder Catheterization in Primary Health Care
Difficulties Experienced in the Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections Associated with Bladder Catheterization in a USF
Rute Oliveira (ULSEDV, Portugal)
"Bundle of Interventions" for the Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections Associated with Bladder Catheters: Current Overview at ULSEDV
Luís Manuel Moura (ULSEDV, Portugal)
Challenges and Evidence-Based Best Practices: A Continuous Improvement Issue Related to Bladder Catheterization
Marie Domingues (ULSEDV, Portugal)
Moderator: Marta Loureiro (USP ULSEDV, Portugal)
12h30-14h00
Lunch
14h00-15h00
SA: Workshop FACTOR PLUS “Perioperative Normal Thermometry: The Contribution of enFlow to Preventing Hypothermia”
Ézio Blanc
14h00-15h00
S6: Workshop ARKA "Consensus-Based Guidelines for Best Practices in the Selection and Use of Examination Gloves in Healthcare Settings"Paulo Alves (Diretor Adjunto da Faculdade Ciências da Saúde e Enfermagem da Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Portugal)
14h00-15h00
S7: Workshop MEDLINE "Solutions that help prevent bloodstream infections" Alexandra Pais
14h00-15h00
S8: Workshop IMPORQUIMICA "The invisible risk of hand basins. Turning research into solutions: Next-generation technologies against HAIs."
Evyatar Gabay
14h00-15h00
S9: Workshop IHCARE "Shellty Pro Care – The new generation of technical sheets for preventing healthcare-associated infections"
Diana Pires
15h00-15h30
SA: Simposyum: Innovation in Preventing the Unseen Threat – Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infections
Nisha Gupta (Director of the Vascular Research & Development Group at the Teleflex Technology Center, USA)
Moderator: Natalia Gimenez (Portugal)
15h30-16h00
SA: Conference: Warning Signs: Clostridioides difficile as an Indicator of System Failures
Martin Kiernan (Visiting Clinical Fellow, University of West London, United Kingdom)
Moderator: Cátia Caneiras (Inst. Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade Medicina da UL, Portugal)
15h00-16h00
S6: Panel: Biological Agents in Healthcare - How to Protect Workers
Clostridium Difficile
Inês Ribeiro (ULSEDV, Portugal)
Sarcoptes Scabiei
Carla Couto (ULSEDV, Portugal)
Neisseria Meningitidis (Meningococcus)
Margarida Oliveira (ULSEDV, Portugal)
The Role of Vaccination
Jacinta Carvalhas (ULSEDV, Portugal)
Moderator: Alexandra Roque (ULSEDV, Portugal)
15h00-16h00
S7: Workshop ARIXMED “Unlocking the Secret of UV-C Surface Disinfection: Proven Efficacy against Candida auris and C. difficile, the 2 villains” Christopher Moshrif (Business Development Manager / UltraViolet Devices Inc, Polónia)
16h00 - 18h00
Free Communications
S6: Moderator: Mário Branco (ESSNorteCVP, Portugal)
S7: Moderator: Igor Pinto (ESSNorteCVP, Portugal)
S8: Moderator: Sónia Novais (ESSNorteCVP, Portugal)
S9: Moderator: João Ventura (ESSNorteCVP, Portugal)
24th october 2025
09h00-10h00
SA: Workshop HARTMAN
09h00-10h00
S6:Workshop DIVISIONCARE
09h00-10h00
S7: Workshop 3M "Not all CHG dressings are created equal: using chlorhexidine to control catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI)"
Catarina Mingates (Clinical Specialist – Medical Surgical)
09h00-10h00
S8:Workshop QUILABAN
09h00-10h00
S9:Workshop BYCARE “Hospital Disinfection: Science and Practice" Mónica Costa (Co-Founder); Malaurie Orrin (Head of Sales Europe - Pal International)
10h00-10h20
SA: Conference: Sustaining quality improvement initiatives - CLABSI
Deborah Xuereb (Mater Dei Hospital, Malta)
Moderator: Paulo Mergulhão (Hospital Lusíadas Porto, Portugal)
10h20-10h40
SA: Conference: Despite all the technology available, why don't people do the obvious?
Carlos Starling (UNIMED College, Brazil)
Moderator: Miguel Paiva (ULSEDV, Portugal)
10h45-11h15
Coffee Break
11h15-11h45
SA: Conference: Sinks in ICU Patitent Rooms
Giovanni-Battista Fucini (Charité – Universitätsmedizin, Berlin)
Moderator: José Meireles (ULSEDV, Portugal)
11h45-12h45
S9: Panel: Computerization and Control of Incisional Injuries
"Incisional Injury Surveillance with the Help of Artificial Intelligence" and "Computer-Assisted Surgical Prophylaxis"
Americo Agostinho (HUG, Switzerland)
"Post-Incision Antisepsis"
Emmanuel Daniel (HUG, Switzerland)
Moderator: Isabel Veloso (ULSB, Portugal)
11h45-12h45
S6: Panel: Bundles: From Strategy to Intervention
Concept and Rationale for Implementation
David Peres (ULSM, Portugal)
Implementation Strategies
Ilda Devesa; Natália Pinheiro; Fernanda Vieira (ULSM, Portugal)
Example of Bundle Implementation in a Hospital Service
Ana Lopes; Carla Dias (ULSM, Portugal)
Moderator: Isabel Neves (ULSM, Portugal)
11h45-12h45
S7: Panel: Surgical Infection Prevention: Consistent Strategies for Safe Outcomes
Colon/Rectum SSI Prevention: Our STOP Hospital Infection Challenge
Andreia Santos (ULSEDV, Portugal)
SSI Prevention in Orthopedics: Screen Today, Protect Tomorrow
Patrícia Maia (ULSEDV, Portugal)
SSI Prevention in the Operating Room: Cleaning and Disinfection – Challenges and Achievements
Filipa Teixeira (ULSEDV, Portugal)
Moderator: Marta Santos (ULSEDV, Portugal)
11h45-12h45
S8: Panel: Multidisciplinary Strategies for Antibiotic Preservation
Antimicrobial Stewardship and Nursing Interventions – Leveraging the Synergy
Deborah Xuereb (Mater Dei Hospital, Malta)
Antibiotic Prescribing and Modern Medicine: A Vital Balance
Paulo André Fernandes (ULS Arco Ribeirinho, Portugal)
Enhancing Antimicrobial Stewardship: Contributions from Behavioral Sciences
Celeste Bastos (ESEP, Portugal)
Moderator: Susana Filipe (ULS Baixo Mondego, Portugal)
11h45-12h45
SA: Panel:The Invisible Cost: Exploring the Consequences of Neglecting Investment in Infection Prevention and Control and Rational Antibiotic Use
The Nurse's Perspective
Sónia Jacinto (Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, UK)
The Physician's Perspective
José Artur Paiva (ULS São João, Portugal)
The Manager's Perspective
Pedro Pita Barros (Nova SBE, Portugal)
Moderator: Paula Batista (ULSMAVE, Portugal)
12h45-14h15
Lunch
14h15-14h45
SA: Conference: Implementation and strategies for infection prevention and control globally
Ermira Tartari (IPC Consultant, Infection Prevention and Control Hub and Task Force, WHO HQ, Integrated Health Services, UHC/Life Course, Suíça)
Moderator: Mário Branco (ESSNorteCVP, Portugal)
14h45-15h45
S8: Painel: WATER SAFE CARE: New paradigm for IPC
Benefits of water safe care
Joana Farinha (ULS São João, Portugal)
Challenges of water safe care
Mauro Rosa (ULS São João, Portugal)
A case of success: Pitfalls and tips for implementation
Patrick Van de Poe (Zuydeland Medich Center, Países Baixos)
Moderator: Nuno Pereira (ULS São João, Portugal)
14h45-15h45
S6: Panel: Infection Control and ULS: More Obstacles or New Opportunities?
The Experience of Working at ULS
Mariana Galado (ULSBA, Portugal)
The CSP Perspective of working at ULS
Roberta Abreu (ULSTS, Portugal)
The New PAPA Experience at ULS
Leonor Pássaro (ULSETEJO, Portugal)
Moderator: Paulo André (ULSAR, Portugal)
14h45-15h45
S7: Panel: Synergies in Environmental Control: Everyone's Contribution
SPCIRA in Circuit Management and Improvement of Hospital Structures – Multidisciplinary Work
Celínia Antunes (ULS Coimbra, Portugal)
The Importance of Structures and the Selection of New Materials with Antibacterial Properties for Hospitals
Alberto Adrego (ULS Coimbra, Portugal)
"Clean Hospitals" at ULS Coimbra - The Impact of Campaigns
Ricardo Conceição (ULS Coimbra, Portugal)
Commentator: Catarina Geraldes (ULS Coimbra, Portugal)
Moderator: Joaquim Oliveira (ULS Coimbra, Portugal)
14h45-15h45
SA: Panel: Blood Cultures: From Collection to Clinical Impact
Blood Cultures: How to Collect?
Alexandra Fernandes (CHUSA, Portugal)
From Collection to Results: What Happens in the Lab
Hugo Cruz (CHUSA, Portugal)
Sepsis: The Role of Blood Cultures
Ricardo Pinho (ULSEDV, Portugal)
Moderator: Mariana Silva (ULSEDV, Portugal)
14h45-15h45
S9: Panel: Glove Use and Management in Physiotherapy Care
Best practices in the use and management of gloves in physiotherapy care
Tânia Soares* (ULSBA, Portugal)
Glove use and environmental sustainability in healthcare
Ana Palma* (ULSSJ, Portugal)
The contribution of physiotherapists to reducing the ecological footprint in healthcare
Tânia Churro* (ULSCB, Portugal)
Best practices in the use and management of gloves by physiotherapists from other regions
Elsa Silva* (ULSSJ, Portugal)
Moderator: Fátima Domingues* (ULSSJ, Portugal)
*Patient Safety, Order of Physiotherapists, Portugal
15h45-16h05
SA: Conference: Clean Hospitals and Human Factors in Environmenal Hygiene?
Alexandra Peters (University of Geneva, Switzerland)
Moderator: Sónia Novais (ESSNorteCVP, Portugal)
16h05-16h25
SA: Conference: Hospital Environmental Screening: What Does the Evidence Tell Us?
Cátia Caneiras (Environmental Health Institute, Faculty of Medicine, UL, Portugal)
Moderator: Bernardo Macedo (ULSEDV, Portugal)
16h25
SA: Awards Ceremony: Research, Best Oral Presentation and Best E-Poster Congress Closing
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