Explore the poster presentations featured at the Epidemiology & Laboratory Capacity (ELC) 2026: Infectious, Respiratory, and Healthcare-associated Infections Conference, sponsored by the Office of the Chief State Epidemiologist’s Emerging and Acute Infectious Disease and Healthcare Safety Units. 

Questions? Email EAIDUHSUConference@dshs.texas.gov

A Comparative Analysis of West Nile Virus Incidence and Rainfall Deviation Trends in Texas and Florida (2010-2024) 

Author: Lauren Jones, BA
UT Health Science Center Houston School of Public Health

View Poster: A Comparative Analysis of West Nile Virus Incidence and Rainfall Deviation Trends in Texas and Florida (2010-2024)

Beyond the Bedside: A Biological & Entrepreneurial Framework for Mitigating Healthcare Workforce Burnout

Author: Mary Blake
DrPH Candidate, Purdue University Global

View Poster: Beyond the Bedside: A Biological & Entrepreneurial Framework for Mitigating Healthcare Workforce Burnout

An Outbreak Investigation of KPC-producing Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacterales in a Texas Acute Care Hospital

Author: Kourtney Lopez, MPH, CIC; Paola Gonzalez, MS
Texas Department of State Health Services, Office of the Chief State Epidemiologist, Disease Surveillance and Epidemiology Section, Healthcare Safety Unit

View Poster: An Outbreak Investigation of KPC-producing Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacterales in a Texas Acute Care Hospital

Development and Implementation of a Weekly Public-Facing Respiratory Virus Surveillance Dashboard to Support Seasonal Situational Awareness in Dallas County

Authors: Stephaie (Yu) Niu, MBBS, MPH; Deborah Bujnowski, PhD, MPH, RD; Saad Zaheer, MD, MPH, MSPH, FACE
Dallas County Health and Human Services 

View Poster: Development and Implementation of a Weekly Public-Facing Respiratory Virus Surveillance Dashboard to Support Seasonal Situational Awareness in Dallas County

Improving OR Point-of-Use Treatment Compliance Through Audit and Barrier-Driven Intervention

Authors: Rhonda Richter (1); Jane Powell (1); Amy Spallone (1,2)
1. Department of Infection Control, Chief Quality Office, UT MD Anderson, Houston, TX
2. Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, UT MD Anderson, Houston, TX

View Poster: Improving OR Point-of-Use Treatment Compliance Through Audit and Barrier-Driven Intervention

Improving the Compliance of Intraoperative Antibiotic Redosing Among Colorectal Cases

Authors: Bency Lukose, MS, RN, CIC; Jessica Gamboa, MPH, CIC
HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast

View Poster: Improving the Compliance of Intraoperative Antibiotic Redosing Among Colorectal Cases

Influential Predictors of Drug-Resistance in Tuberculosis Patients across Texas

Authors: Maya Reed; Mithra Cama; Jackson Smith
Texas Department of Health Services, Texas Center of Infectious Diseases

View Poster: Influential Predictors of Drug-Resistance in Tuberculosis Patients across Texas

Pandemic Influenza Modeling in West Texas - A “Ready-to-Deploy” Disease Model to Support Public Health Pandemic Planning in West Texas

Author: Avery Conrad, MPH
Texas Department of Health Services, Public Health Region 9/10

View Poster: Pandemic Influenza Modeling in West Texas A “Ready-to-Deploy” Disease Model to Support Public Health Pandemic Planning in West Texas

Pediatric Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections, Texas, 2023–2024

Author: Sohail Lakhani, MSc; Angie Benedetto, MPH, CIC; Debola Ola, DrPH, MD, MPH, CIC; Leon Kincy, MAG; Whitney L. Ethridge, MPH, CPH, CIC; Jennifer Lee, PhD; Alma Martinez, MS
Texas Department of State Health Services, Office of the Chief State Epidemiologist, Disease Surveillance and Epidemiology Section, Healthcare Safety Unit

View Poster: Pediatric Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections, Texas, 2023–2024

Pregnancy-Associated Listeriosos in Cameron County, Texas - A Review on Fetal Loss Related to International Cheese Products 

Authors: Layda Rincon; Aaron Balderrama; Ashley Garcia 
Cameron County Public Health

View Poster: Pregnancy-Associated Listeriosos in Cameron County, Texas - A Review on Fetal Loss Related to International Cheese Products

Prevention in Print: Advancing Academic Infection Control Education

Authors:  Connie Valenzuela, a-IPC, CTCM; Lauren Wheat, a-IPC; Priscilla Villarreal, CTCM
Texas Department of State Health Services, Office of the Chief State Epidemiologist, Disease Surveillance and Epidemiology Section, Healthcare Safety Unit

View Poster: Prevention in Print: Advancing Academic Infection Control Education

Public Health Region 6/5S Flu Report: Predictive Value of Influenza-Like Illness for Subsequent Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza Activity

Authors: Jacqueline Simpson, MPH; Amanda Wright, MPH; Melissa Plantenga, BS; Srikar Ranga, MPH
Texas Department of State Health Services, Public Health Region 6/5 South

View Poster: Public Health Region 6/5S Flu Report: Predictive Value of Influenza-Like Illness for Subsequent Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza Activity

Texas and National Healthcare-Associated Infection Prevention Performance, 2024

Authors: Whitney L. Ethridge, MPH, CPH, CIC; Angie Benedetto, MPH, CIC; Debola Ola, DrPH, MD, MPH, CIC; Jennifer Lee, PhD; Alma Martinez, MS
Texas Department of State Health Services, Office of the Chief State Epidemiologist, Disease Surveillance and Epidemiology Section, Healthcare Safety Unit

View Poster: Texas and National Healthcare-Associated Infection Prevention Performance, 2024

Texas Trends in Candida auris and Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales

Authors: Jenna Harlan, MPH, CIC; Gabrielle Franco, MPH; Roma Ranade, MPH; Tina Moraga, MPH, CIC; Esperandeesse Kabran, MPH
Texas Department of State Health Services, Office of the Chief State Epidemiologist, Disease Surveillance and Epidemiology Section, Healthcare Safety Unit

View Poster: Texas Trends in Candida auris and Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales

Steam Treatment to Decrease Candida auris Environmental Burden 

Authors: Carolyn Z. Grimes; Maria Horne; Alex Chesney; Adele Bosquez Henry; Joy Escalante; DeAnn Roberts; Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
Enterprise Quality, Patient Safety, and Infection Control, TIRR Memorial Hermann

View Poster: Steam treatment to decrease Candida auris environmental burden 

Strengthening Infectious Disease Prevention Through Community Health Worker Training:
Advancing Healthy People 2030 Goals

Author: Dr. Sharita J. Ambrose, DHEd, MPH, CHES, CHWI 
Allure Alliance Inc. 

View Poster: Advancing Healthy People 2030 Goals: Strengthening Disease Prevention Through Community Health Worker Training.pptx

STOP THAT YEAST! Mitigating Spread of Candida auris Through “Command Center” Approach

Author: Valerie Ausborn, MPH, CIC
Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center

View Poster: STOP THAT YEAST! Mitigating Spread of Candida auris Through “Command Center” Approach

Timeliness of Candida auris Reporting in Harris County, Texas, 2021-2024 

Authors: Sage Smith, MPH; Ana Zangeneh, MPH 
Office of Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Emerging Diseases

View Poster: Timeliness of Candida auris Reporting in Harris County, Texas, 2021-2024 

Urinary Tract Infection Prevention in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury: Evaluating Surveillance Gaps Using National Healthcare Safety Network Criteria

Author: Darlene James, MPH, CIC
Nexus Health Systems

View Poster: Urinary Tract Infection Prevention in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury: Evaluating Surveillance Gaps Using National Healthcare Safety Network Criteria

Who’s Afraid of the Emergency Department: Enhancing Syndromic Surveillance

Authors: Priscilla Sanchez, B.S., MBA-HCA; Nancy Fallwell RN, MSN/MHA; Amy Gonzalez; Melanie Palma
Driscoll Children's Hospital 

View Poster: Who’s Afraid of the Emergency Department: Enhancing Syndromic Surveillance

Yersiniosis Detections in Public Health Region 6/5S, Texas

Authors: Amanda Wright, MPH; Melissa Plantenga, BS; Srikar Ranga, MPH; Jacqueline Simpson, MPH
Texas Department of State Health Services, Public Health Region 6/5 South

View Poster: Yersiniosis Detections in Public Health Region 6/5S, Texas