Public Policy Updates

The CDC issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to share information about the risk of severe arboviral neuroinvasive disease among patients who are receiving B cell-depleting or B cell-modulating medications. These medications are used to treat autoimmune conditions and transplant rejection. Since there are no approved treatments or prophylaxis to prevent arboviral diseases, … Continued

President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) revising long-standing evidence-based childhood vaccine recommendations. In addition to reducing the number of recommended vaccines from 18 to 11, the EO also recommends that the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine be administered in three separate single disease shots, and all childhood vaccines should be administered at separate … Continued

The CDC is introducing CaseTrace, a new interactive tool to support HAI outbreak investigations. CaseTrace requires no software installation and works in any web browser. Learn more.

On August 5, the US Senate voted to confirm President Trump’s nomination of Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director. Schwartz is a retired rear admiral in the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and served as deputy surgeon general from January 2019 to April 2021. She is the administration’s third CDC director nominee, following the … Continued

The CDC issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) health advisory to notify clinicians of an outbreak of domestically acquired cyclosporiasis in multiple U.S. states. In addition to background on cyclosporiasis, the HAN advisory includes recommendations for clinicians, laboratories, public health, the public, and disinfecting in healthcare settings. Read the HAN advisory.

APIC submitted comments to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on the Regulation of Federal Financial Assistance proposed rule. Although OMB claims that the proposed rule will increase transparency, oversight, and accountability in the federal funding framework, the results of the proposed rule could have a chilling effect on science. The proposal … Continued

CDC Releases 2024 HAI Progress Report The CDC released the 2024 annual National and State HAI Progress Report. The report provides a summary of select HAIs across four healthcare settings: acute care hospitals, critical access hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and long-term acute care hospitals. Among acute care hospitals nationally, the report shows decreases in CLABSI, … Continued

Apply Now for HIPAG APIC and SHEA are accepting applications for voting members for the Joint Healthcare Infection Prevention Advisory Group (HIPAG). The advisory group will provide national leadership in infection prevention and control to address gaps left by the elimination of CDC’s HICPAC. Applicants must be a member of APIC, SHEA, or both. Find … Continued

CDC Advisory: New World Screwworm near U.S. Border The CDC issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory about recent New World screwworm (NWS) animal cases near the U.S.-Mexico border. This outbreak has impacted animals in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, which borders Texas. While NWS infestations primarily impact livestock, it can also affect other … Continued