Valued Voice

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Healthcare-Associated Infections Prevention Program (HAI Program) notified its partners and regulated providers this week that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated infection prevention and control recommendations for health care settings on May 8, 2023.
 
In its notice, the HAI Program wrote, “The updated recommendations provide health care settings a framework to implement IPC (infection prevention and control) practices based on their individual facility needs and risks. These recommendations continue to apply to all settings where health care is delivered, including nursing homes and home health.”
 
The HAI Program continued, “Due to data variability following the end of the public health emergency, CDC will no longer publish community transmission level data. Previously, community transmission levels informed the use of source control in health care settings, as well as admission testing in nursing homes.”
 
The HAI Program notice summarized some of the CDC’s recommendations. Related to source control, the HAI Program wrote, “Health care facilities are encouraged to make source control decisions based on facility and patient or resident characteristics and local data sources.” Continuing, the notice said, “CDC recommends source control that follows the infection control core practices, while also considering outbreaks, higher risk health care locations, and other public health recommendations. Health care personnel should continue to follow standard transmission-based precautions when required based on suspected diagnoses.”
 
The HAI Program encourages health care facilities to review the updated source control recommendations, identify available local data sources regarding respiratory virus transmission, and assess risks for facility patients, residents, staff and visitors. The HAI Program wrote that facilities should update source control policies to reflect the new phase of health care response for SARS-CoV-2. In the notice, DHS encourages widespread staff, resident, patient and visitor education to ensure understanding of new practices.
 
For questions, email the HAI Program.