CDC Releases Updated Infection Prevention and Control Guidance
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated two health care infection prevention and control guidance documents, including:
- Infection Control: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) | CDC; and
- Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing Homes | CDC.
Updates have also been made in these guidance documents to align with prior updates made for health care personnel with higher-risk exposures in the Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-COV-2 Infection or Exposure to SARS-CoV-2.
Due to concerns about increased transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, CDC guidance was updated to enhance protection for healthcare personnel, patients, and visitors and to address concerns about potential impacts on the healthcare system given a surge in SARS-CoV-2 infections. These updates will be refined as additional information becomes available to inform recommended actions.
- Empiric use of Transmission-Based Precautions (quarantine) is recommended for patients who have had close contact with someone with SARS-CoV-2 infection if they are not up to date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses.
- In general, quarantine is not needed for asymptomatic patients who are up to date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses or who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection in the prior 90 days; potential exceptions are described in the guidance. However, some of these patients should still be tested as described in the testing section of the guidance.
- A test-based strategy and (if available) consultation with infectious disease experts is now recommended for determining the duration of Transmission-Based Precautions for patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.
- Included additional examples when universal respirator use could be considered
- Additional updates that will have implications for healthcare facilities were made in the following guidance documents:
