A CDC advisory committee convened last week to revisit the agency's draft infection control guidelines for healthcare facilities, voting in favor of recommendations that remain largely unchanged despite ongoing criticism.
The Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee initially approved the draft recommendations in November 2023. After facing pushbuck from nurses and other industry members, the CDC in January requested additional clarifications from the advisory group on its isolation precautions guideline, including whether N95s should be required and under what specific circumstances.
During a Nov. 15 meeting, HICPAC discussed the CDC's four key questions on this guidance and voted on responses for each. They determined that:
- N95 respiratory masks should not be universally recommended for all airborne pathogens.
- Surgical masks are sufficient for common respiratory pathogens that spread over short distances.
- Healthcare workers may voluntarily wear N95 respirators, but this language should not be included as a formal recommendation.
- A blanket recommendation for universal mask use to prevent pathogen transmission from the mask-wearer is unnecessary.
HICPAC also voted on two recommendations for the healthcare personnel guidelines. The committee recommended healthcare workers be isolated for three days after the onset of a respiratory virus. Workers may return to work if they are fever-free for 24 hours and their symptoms are improving, though they should wear a mask at work until seven days after the virus's onset, according to Medpage Today.
HICPAC said the recommendations will be sent to the CDC in preparation for a public comment period.
Learn more about the draft guidelines, and industry scrutiny of them, here.