This Page is Dedicated to The CDC's Post Pandemic Initiative to Modify Post-Pandemic Strategies for Infection Control       CDC Announcment of Sending HICPAC Recommandations Back for Reconsideration:   Read CDC Blog: https://blogs.cdc.gov/safehealthcare/draft-2024-guideline-to-prevent-transmission-of-pathogens-in-healthcare-settings/ Read Summary of Action in Infection Control Today:  https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/cdc-sends-back-proposals-hicpac-pathogen-spread-health-care-revision   Related News Articles   Maxmen A, & KFF Health News. Rift over N95 Use Puts Health Workers at Risk Again. Scientific America. Dec. 26, 2023. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/rift-over-n95-use-puts-health-workers-at-risk-again/      Ross J, Thomason J.  CDC Advisors' Infection Control Guidance Leaves Us Unprotected — The guidelines will lead to unnecessary infections and deaths if approved. Nov. 29, 2023. https://www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/second-opinions/107581    Kavanagh TK. CDC's HICPAC Update: Impact on COVID-19, Pathogen Control, and Immunocompromised Safety in Health care Settings.  Infection Control Today. Nov. 8, 2023. https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/cdc-s-hicpac-update-impact-covid-19-pathogen-control-immunocompromised-safety-health-care-settings     Stone J. A Storm Is Gathering Around A CDC Committee For Its Controversial Infection Control Guidance. Nov. 1st, 2023.  https://www.forbes.com/sites/judystone/2023/11/01/a-storm-is-gathering-around-a-cdc-committee/?sh=21ca93a160b2    Mandavilli A. In Hospitals, Viruses Are Everywhere. Masks Are Not. New York Times. Sept. 23, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/23/health/hospitals-masking-mandates.html     Pak T, Jirmanus L, Wang A. Opinion: The mistake hospitals made on Covid-19. CNN. Sept. 19, 2023. https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/19/opinions/covid-19-hospital-policies-pak-jirmanus-wang/index.html     Putka S. CDC Advisory Group Under Fire for Proposed Infection Control Guidelines. MedPage Today. Aug. 25, 2023. https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/infectioncontrol/106030          Kavanagh KT. As COVID-19 Hospitalizations Increase Alarmingly, Workers and Patients Call for Better Standards. Infectin Control Today. Aug. 28, 2023. https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/as-covid-19-hospitalizations-increase-alarmingly-workers-patients-call-better-standards      National Nurses United Press Release. NNU delivers petition urging CDC to strengthen proposed infection control guidance; CDC cuts off public comments at advisory committee meeting. Aug. 23, 2023. https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/nnu-delivers-petition-urging-the-cdc-to-strengthen-proposed-infection-control-guidance   ( Download PDF ) Stone J. CDC Weighs Lower Infection Safety Precautions For Healthcare Workers. Forbes. Aug. 21, 2021. https://www-forbes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.forbes.com/sites/judystone/2023/08/21/cdc-weighs-lower-infection-safety-precautions-for-healthcare-workers/amp/  Chow EJ, Lynch JB, Zerr DM. Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic: Updating Our Approach to Masking in Health Care Facilities. Annals of Internal Medicine. Aug. 22, 2023. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M23-1230  Kavanagh K, Thomason J, Cormier L. One Step Forward, 2 Back: CDC's Proposals for Infection Control in Health Care Facilities . Infection Control Today. Jul 24, 2023 https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/one-step-forward-2-back-cdc-s-proposals-infection-control-health-care-facilities MacBride K. Why the CDC’s New Mask Guideline Proposal May Actually Imperil Frontline Workers. Daily Beast. June 30, 2023. https://www.thedailybeast.com/new-cdc-mask-guidelines-may-actually-imperil-frontline-workers-experts-say       Impact of COVID-19 on immunocompromised populations during the Omicron era: insights from the observational population-based INFORM study INFORM and EPOCH Studies Unveil COVID-19's Heavy Toll on Immunocompromised Individuals Recent INFORM and EPOCH studies shed light on the significant risk and poor outcomes faced by immunocompromised individuals due to COVID-19, emphasizing the need for tailored prevention strategies. https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/inform-epoch-studies-unveil-covid-19-s-heavy-toll-immunocompromised-individuals  "Immunocompromised individuals continue to be impacted disproportionately by COVID-19 and have an urgent need for additional preventive measures beyond current vaccination programmes. These data can help determine the immunocompromised groups for which targeted prevention strategies may have the highest impact." https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(23)00166-7/fulltext      CDC's COVID-19 Strategies and The Americans with Disabilities Act Letter to the CDC regarding the adverse impact of new recommendations on immunosupressed individuals and how they may conflict with the Americans With Disability Act:  Oct. 24 Letter    Updated Action Letter     View CDC's Responses          Public Health Experts Ask CDC Director to Broaden Input on Revisions to Key Infection Control Guidelines On July 20, 2023 a letter was sent to the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requesting the agency's Healthcare Infection Control Practice Advisory Committee seek input from more stakeholders and the public, recognize the importance of infectious disease transmission by inhalation of human-generated aerosols, and ensure the application of interventions from all levels of the control hierarchy. Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy. Aug. 24, 2023.  https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/10482911231195898   View Action Letter Regarding CDC/HICPAC - July 20, 2023  Download Letter View CDC's Response - Aug. 18, 2023   Download Letter View Follow Up Action Letter - Sept 21, 2023   Download Letter  =============================  CDC HICPAC Meeting Aug. 22, 2023  Download Agenda    Meeting Videos 1. CDC HICPAC Meeting - Isolation Precautions - Aug. 22, 2023 https://youtu.be/RUGOtETsvXY    2. 20230822 CDC HICPAC Meeting - Final Question Work Exposure - Aug. 22, 2023 https://youtu.be/sHm0h47EHPk 3. CDC HICPAC Meeting - Andes & Nipah Virus Precautions - Aug. 22, 2023 https://youtu.be/Pwmwrab6mGY  4. CDC HICPAC Meeting - Public Comment - Aug. 22, 2023 https://youtu.be/msjoFGnd0KU   5. Public Comment: CDC HICPAC Meeting - Infection Control Standards. Dr. Kevin Kavanagh, MD, MS, from Health Watch USA(sm) makes the case for better CDC infection control recommendations. Respirators or PAPRs should be used when treating all airborne respiratory pathogens. Knowledge of a patient's microbiome is of paramount importance. Asymptomatic carriers in hospitals and nursing homes should be identified with screening and undergo isolation and decolonization protocols. If this fails, cohorting nursing home residents with compatible microbiomes should be considered. Enhanced Barrier Precautions are inadequate to stop the spread of disease. They may even enhance spread by providing a false sense of security. Finally, we must protect the most vulnerable in our society and implement protective strategies in compliance with the ADA. Universal masking in healthcare facilities should be implemented to accomplish this goal. CDC HICPAC Meeting, Aug. 22, 2023. View YouTube Video Comment. https://youtu.be/E2-ERukRovc       View Written Comment.       CDC HICPAC Meeting Jun. 8-9, 2023   Download Agenda  Download Record of Proceedings   Presentation Video YouTube Playlist   https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKKV6p_etRmMZC5U3RC_9NzeRGDYRghre     Download CDC Presentation Slide set: Lin M, Wright S (Co-Chairs). Isolation Precautions Guideline Workgroup. CDC HICPAC. June 8, 2023 CDC Slide Set https://www.healthwatchusa.org/HWUSA-Presentations-Community/PDF-Downloads/20230608-CDC-IP_Workgroup_HICPAC-FINAL.pdf&  Public Comment: CDC HICPAC Meeting June 9, 2023 – Enhanced Barrier Precautions Enhanced barrier precautions is advocated for use to mitigate the spread of CRE and C. Auris in Nurshing Home Settings. These are highly dangerous organisms. A clinical trial is certainly indicated before planning for adoption in non-research settings. A better approach is screening to identify the microbiome of residents, decolonization and cohorting if decolonization is not successful. It is concerning that the CDC appears to be moving forward with EBP where there is little evidence supporting their effectiveness with dangerous pathogens and also appears to be considering abandoning N95 masking where there is decades of occupational research supporting their use. Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC), June 9, 2023. View Written Comment  YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/RiFQAaPEHPE   The Need for Effective Policy to Prevent Airborne Spread of Pathogens -June 8, 2023 CDC HICPAC Meeting Dr. Kevin Kavanagh discusses the need for universal and continued use of N95 masks in healthcare settings. Firm standards regarding building ventilation needs to be set along with firm and clear guidance to prevent spread. Comment before the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC), June 8, 2023. View Written Comment YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/g1fPL9qRGt8