Policy Updates

APIC provided comments and recommendations to CMS on its annual payment update proposals for FY 2025. APIC’s comments to the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) proposed rule included support for proposed quality reporting requirements for CAUTI and CLABSI in oncology wards, support for modifying respiratory illness reporting requirements, and support for separating the Antimicrobial … Continued

NIOSH has honored a request by Champak Enterprise Co., Ltd. to voluntarily rescind NIOSH approval to five respirators. As of June 1, 2024, any respirator marked with the following NIOSH approval numbers are no longer NIOSH approved and may not be used, manufactured, assembled, sold, or distributed: 84A-7229, 84A-7230, 84A-7832, 84A-7842, and 84A-8080. Read the … Continued

A second human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) virus infection has been identified in the state of Michigan. This is the third human case associated with an ongoing multistate outbreak of A(H5N1) in U.S. dairy cows. None of the three cases are associated with the others. All three cases occurred in dairy … Continued

APIC provided comments to CMS on annual payment updates for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities and Skilled Nursing Facilities. CMS has not proposed new HAI reporting requirements for these settings for FY 2025, but APIC provided input on potential future measures, support for data collection on social determinants of health, and continued advocacy for infection preventionists in … Continued

The FDA issued final guidance to clarify the distinction between “servicing” and “remanufacturing” reuseable medical devices. The guidance also includes recommendations for information that should be included in labeling to help assure the continued quality, safety, and effectiveness of devices that are intended to be serviced over their useful life. Read the FDA final guidance … Continued

NIOSH has honored a request by Honeywell International to voluntarily rescind 22 NIOSH approvals. As of May 24, 2024, any respirator marked with these approval numbers is no longer NIOSH approved and may not be used, manufactured, assembled, sold, or distributed. Read the NIOSH notice for a list of rescinded devices.

NIOSH has honored a request by 3M Scott Fire & Safety to voluntarily rescind 19 respirator approvals. As of May 15, 2024, these respirators are no longer NIOSH approved and may no longer be used, manufactured, assembled, sold, or distributed. See the NIOSH notice 1 and NIOSH notice 2 for more information. Approval Number Part … Continued

As part of AHRQ’s ongoing efforts to advance patient safety, the agency has published a new evidence review to help healthcare leaders prioritize and implement safety strategies. Read the AHRQ Making Healthcare Safer IV report: Active Infection Surveillance of Clostridioides difficile and Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), Candida auris.

The CDC issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to alert healthcare providers to cases of meningococcal disease linked to travel to Saudi Arabia. Since April 2024, 12 cases of meningococcal disease have been reported to national public health agencies in the United States (5 cases), France (4 cases), and the United Kingdom (3 … Continued