Policy Updates

The CDC has been alerted to 23 confirmed cases of measles between December 1, 2023 and January 23, 2024, mostly among children and adolescents who have not been vaccinated. Due to the recent cases, CDC is advising healthcare providers to be on alert for patients exhibiting symptoms consistent with measles, especially if the patient has … Continued

The CDC and ACIP recommend the RSV vaccination (Pfizer Abrysvo) for pregnant people during 32–36 weeks gestation using seasonal administration to protect infants against RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) after birth. In most of the continental United States, the RSV vaccine should be given to pregnant people from September 1 through January 31, regardless of year-to-year circulation, … Continued

NIOSH is sponsoring the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to host a virtual public workshop, March 4-5, examining opportunities to increase the use of reusable healthcare textiles (HCTs) for PPE used in healthcare settings. Technical experts, policy makers, manufacturers, PPE users in healthcare, and others will have the opportunity to explore the potential … Continued

During this COCA call, CDC subject matter experts will present an overview of diagnostic testing and therapeutic options for COVID-19 and influenza, including eligibility, indications, and efficacy. The call is on Thursday, February 1 at 2 – 3 pm ET. Free continuing education is available. Click here for more information and to access the webinar.

Based on the significant interest in the draft recommendations for revisions to the Isolation Precautions Guidelines, CDC has asked HICPAC to reconsider some initial questions and comments before submitting the guideline into the Federal Register for public comment. In addition, CDC is working to expand the scope of technical backgrounds of participants on the HICPAC … Continued

A CDC report identified a hotel swimming pool as the source of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection outbreak in Maine in March 2023. Inadequate maintenance and monitoring of chlorine concentration likely contributed to the outbreak. Read the report in MMWR.

The CDC in collaboration with the American Medical Association, hosted a five-part webinar series to introduce the Sepsis Core Elements and share real-life examples, strategies, and best practices to help organizations successfully implement them. For those who missed the live webinars, recordings are available on the Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements website. Free continuing education … Continued

A new report from Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) describes a nationwide tuberculosis (TB) outbreak reported in July 2023 caused by bone allografts containing live cells. This was the second outbreak of bone allograft–related TB in recent years and underscores the urgent need to implement improved donor screening and culture-based testing to prevent tissue-derived … Continued

Effective July 1, 2024, The Joint Commission approved new and revised requirements for the “Infection Prevention and Control” (IC) chapter for critical access hospitals and hospitals. The simplified content and structure eliminated requirements that do not add value to accreditation surveys. Read more.