Public Policy Updates

The CDC will be co-hosting a webinar to help clinicians access updates on influenza, COVID-19, and RSV, including the latest vaccine recommendations. The webinar will be Thursday, November 21 at 12 – 1 pm ET. Register here.

NIOSH published a new fact sheet, Respirator Selection Guide for the Healthcare Industry. The fact sheet provides industry-specific respirator selection and use information for employers and respiratory protection program managers in healthcare to help minimize the number of healthcare personnel exposed to harmful contaminants. 

Since April 2024, CDC has confirmed avian influenza A(H5) virus infections in 52 people in the U.S. The source of the exposure in one case, which was reported by Missouri, could not be determined; however, all the other cases were associated with exposure to infected poultry or dairy cows. There has been no evidence of … Continued

The CDC released interim recommendations for preventing human exposures to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) viruses and infection prevention and control measures. Recommendations include use of personal protective equipment, testing, antiviral treatment, patient investigations, monitoring of exposed persons, and antiviral chemoprophylaxis of exposed persons. Read more.

The CDC released the 2023 National and State Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Progress Report, which shows progress in preventing some HAIs in acute care settings. The report shows decreases in SIRs for MRSA, CLABSI, CDI, CAUTI, and VAE in acute care hospitals from 2022 to 2023. Read more.

The CDC has designated November as C. diff Awareness Month to raise awareness about this potentially deadly threat. The CDC C.diff website includes resources and materials you can share with your colleagues, patients, and families about protecting against transmission. Additionally, C. diff Awareness Month coincides with U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week and World Antibiotic Awareness Week, … Continued

The CDC Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) team will present a webinar on 2024-2025 recommendations for influenza prevention and treatment in children on Thursday, November 14 at 2 – 3 pm ET. Continuing education is available. Learn more.

Baxter announced that it anticipates restarting the highest-throughput IV solutions manufacturing line at its North Cove, NC site this week, following severe damage from Hurricane Helene. Once the quality and safety of the products are assured, the earliest distribution could begin in mid- to late- November. Read more. In the meantime, the FDA announced extended … Continued

AHRQ developed a toolkit to equip healthcare professionals with the essential knowledge, resources, and tools to tackle the complex problems of MRSA prevention in hospital intensive care units (ICUs) and non-intensive care units (non-ICUs). Learn more.