Public Policy Updates

The FDA authorized marketing of DiaSorin Molecular LLC’s Simplexa C. auris Direct, a molecular-based assay intended to detect Candida auris (C. auris) DNA from a skin swab of the armpit or groin from patients suspected of C. auris colonization. The test is intended to help prevent and control C. auris infections in healthcare settings. Read more about FDA’s … Continued

CMS has developed a training course to provide an overview of 2025 quality reporting programs (QRP) in post-acute care (PAC) settings, including home health, inpatient rehab facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and long-term acute care. The web-based training is available on demand and takes about 45 minutes to complete the whole course. Click here to access … Continued

The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), released a Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Strategy focused on efforts to support a response to the current Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)H5N1 threat. This strategy is a component of the larger collaborative HHS influenza research strategy, which includes NIH, … Continued

The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) published a discussion paper, “Streamlining Regulatory Oversight of Respirators Used in Health Care Settings will Improve Worker Protection,” highlighting continued confusion regarding federal regulations and guidance on the use of air-purifying respirators (APRs) in healthcare settings. Read more in the NIOSH Science Blog.

The CDC used new data to compare the burden of seven antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in 2021-2022 in its most recent Antimicrobial Resistance (AR) Threats Report. The new data show a combined 20 percent increase in AR hospital-onset infections, and a nearly five-fold increase in Candida auris from 2019 to 2022. Read the CDC fact sheet.

OSHA published a new Hazard Alert on protecting at-risk workers from H5N1 Avian Influenza. The alert identifies at-risk workers as those who work with livestock on farms and slaughterhouses, as well as veterinarians who treat birds and livestock. The alert focuses on limiting or preventing worker exposure to H5N1. Read the OSHA Hazard Alert.

The CDC’s Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) team will host a webinar to update providers on the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) (H5N1) outbreak. Although the risk of infection remains low for the general population, people with job-related exposure to infected animals are at greater risk. The webinar will be held Tuesday, July 16 … Continued

On June 28, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that reduced the power of federal agencies to interpret the laws they administer and ruled that courts should rely on their own interpretation of ambiguous laws. Although this ruling will have a broad impact on federal regulations, at the present time it does not impact … Continued

NIOSH has honored a request by several respirator manufacturers to voluntarily rescind NIOSH respirator approvals for different types of respirators. Venus Safety & Health Pvt., Ltd. has requested rescission for filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) with NIOSH approval numbers 84A-5634 and 84A-9365. SAS Safety Corporation has requested rescissions for half mask or full facepiece air purifying … Continued