Public Policy Updates

The CDC has confirmed two human cases of H5N1 bird flu in people with occupational exposure to infected dairy cows in California. H5N1 outbreaks in dairy cows were first reported in CA in August 2024, but these are the first known human cases there. This does not change CDC’s risk assessment for H5N1 in the … Continued

The CDC Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) team will present a webinar on Updates on Diagnostic Testing and Outpatient Treatment for COVID-19 and Influenza. The webinar will be on Thursday, October 10 at 2:00 – 3:00 pm ET. Free continuing education is available. Learn more.

Dentists prescribe approximately 10 percent of all outpatient antibiotics in the U.S., but many of these antibiotic prescriptions may not be needed based on existing guidelines. In the past, antibiotic prophylaxis was commonly prescribed to patients with prosthetic joints before certain dental procedures to prevent joint infections. However, expert guidelines no longer recommend pre-dental procedure … Continued

New World screwworm (NWS) (Cochliomyia hominivorax) flies produce larvae that feed on living tissue, causing disease primarily in animals and livestock, though humans can also be infested. NWS was eradicated in the U.S. in the 1960s, in Mexico in the 1970s, and in Central America in the early 2000s. However, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and … Continued

The National Quality Forum (NQF) released the Hospital-Onset Bacteremia and Fungemia Playbook, a guide to help organizational leaders and clinical care teams in acute care settings implement or improve hospital-onset bacteremia and fungemia (HOB) prevention, identification, and treatment initiatives. The release of the HOB Playbook comes as the CDC is taking steps to address HOB … Continued

CMS released a report on the study of the Acute Hospital Care at Home (AHCAH) initiative. The study uses quantitative and qualitative data to draw comparisons between AHCAH and brick-and-mortar hospitals. Access the report.

The CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) issued a Health Update to provide additional information about the outbreak of clade I mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as well as surrounding countries Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda. Although the CDC is not recommending widespread vaccination in the U.S., it … Continued

Beginning November 1, 2024, CMS will require hospitals to electronically report information via NHSN about COVID-19, influenza, and RSV as part of the CMS Conditions of Participation (CoPs). Weekly reporting will be through the NHSN Patient Safety Component. This requirement does not apply to Long-Term Care Facilities or Dialysis Facilities and will not impact healthcare … Continued

CMS has finalized plans to revise the NHSN Antibiotic Use and Resistance (AUR) reporting measure beginning in calendar year (CY) 2025. The AUR measure will be split into two separate measures: AU surveillance and AR Surveillance. CDC will be updating its educational materials to include this update. Read more in the September NHSN Newsletter on … Continued