Policy Updates

In the CDC’s latest Safe Healthcare Blog, deputy director of CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion Dr. Mike Bell reviews important infection control measures that can help IPs prepare their facilities to navigate the upcoming respiratory virus season. In addition, the CDC COCA team will host a webinar on recommendations for influenza, COVID-19, and RSV … Continued

The CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) issued a health advisory to notify clinicians and caregivers about increases in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) across some parts of the Southeastern U.S. Read about CDC recommendations for prevention and treatment.

The CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) issued a health advisory to notify healthcare providers, laboratories, and public health departments about recent reports of fatal Vibrio vulnificus (V. vulnificus) infections, including wound and foodborne infections. Vibrio bacteria naturally live in coastal waters, and the Vibrio vulnificus species thrives in warmer waters. During July and August 2023, the U.S. … Continued

CMS issued a proposed rule requiring minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes. The proposed rule includes three core staffing proposals: APIC has expressed concern that the proposed rule does not include staffing requirements for infection preventionists in nursing homes.

NIOSH has designated the week of September 5-8, 2023 as Respiratory Protection Week. This week-long observance highlights the importance of respiratory protection in the workplace and provides resources to help users make educated decisions when selecting and wearing a respirator. Read more.

The CDC issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Update to share new information about a single case of locally acquired malaria in Maryland reported on August 18, 2023. The Maryland case is a different malaria species and unrelated to the seven cases identified in Florida and the one case identified in Texas earlier in … Continued

The CDC COCA group will host a webinar on 2023-2024 Recommendations for Influenza Prevention and Treatment in Children: An Update for Pediatric Providers. The webinar will be on Thursday, August 31 at 2:00 – 3:00 pm ET. Free continuing education will be available. More information and a link to the webinar can be found here.

The CDC Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) group reports that outbreaks of antifungal-resistant ringworm infections have been identified by public health officials in New York City, as well as several other U.S. states, Canada, Asia and Europe. Although ringworm is usually a minor ailment that can be treated with topical antifungal medications, some current … Continued

The Department of Health and Human Services announced the formation of the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice to lead a coordinated whole-of-government response to long COVID. The office will be housed within the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health. In addition, the National Institutes of Health will launch Long COVID clinical … Continued