Public Policy Updates

The HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) published a report on “Combating Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The report identifies lessons learned during the pandemic that can improve the continued fight against AMR. APIC provided input into the development of this report. Read the report.

NIOSH revoked six approval numbers issued to Aegle PPE 1 LLC because the company has failed to maintain their quality control system. Respirators with revoked approval numbers may no longer be used, manufactured, assembled, sold, or distributed, and may not be used to fulfill any standard or statute requiring use of a NIOSH-approved respirator. Learn … Continued

The first fatal H5N1 human infection was reported in Louisiana. The patient was over age 65 and had underlying health conditions. The CDC has confirmed 66 human cases of H5N1 avian influenza in the U.S. as of January 6. The source of exposure of two cases is unknown, but the rest have resulted from exposure … Continued

As of January 3, the amount of acute respiratory illness causing people to seek healthcare is at a high level and continues to increase nationally. Emergency department visits for influenza and RSV are very high and increasing in most of the country. COVID-19 activity is low but also increasing. Learn more and find respiratory illness … Continued

The Joint Commission’s revised Infection Prevention and Control (IC) chapter, including new and revised requirements, has been approved for all Joint Commission-accredited office-based surgery (OBS) practices and behavioral health and human services (BHC) organizations. Read updated prepublication standards for these care settings.

The first case of clade I mpox in the U.S. was confirmed by the California Department of Public Health. The patient had recently traveled from a region in Africa where the strain is circulating. The person isolated at home and there is no evidence that mpox clade I is spreading in the U.S.  Read more.

The FDA announced that Baxter Healthcare Corporation issued an Urgent Medical Device Recall of certain lots of Solution Sets with Duo-Vent Spikes due to incorrect assembly with inverted side clamps. An inverted side clamp may not allow medication to be delivered, and the patient’s blood may backflow into the set and source container. Read more.

The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) released the U.S. DHHS All-Hazards Plan, HHS’s emergency operations framework for coordinated departmental response and recovery from disasters and public health emergencies. It provides an all-discipline all-hazards approach to coordinated federal public health, medical, human services, and social services assistance to support state and local governments’ activities … Continued

APIC provided comments to Leapfrog in response to its proposed updates to the 2025 Leapfrog Hospital Survey. APIC’s recommendations included adding subsections on infection preventionist staffing (Section 5) and patient bathing (Section 6) and reducing the number of required hand hygiene observations (Section 6C). Read APIC’s comments.