Guidance & Regulation Updates

During the August 2024 meeting, the committee provided brief updates from three of HICPAC’s workgroups: Isolation Precautions, Dental Unit Waterlines, and Infection Control in Healthcare Personnel. A recap of the meeting and what was specifically covered can be reviewed on the CDC’s Blog.

Updated to align with the current CDC mpox guidance to include high and intermediate risk exposure monitoring and travel considerations. Revised language in exposure scenarios for the application of risk assessment for both healthcare personnel and patients experiencing exposure to a person with mpox. Updated risk categories based on current CDC guidance.

Updates and recommendations for healthcare providers on pertussis, avian influenza A(H5N1), invasive Group A Streptococcus, and mpox in Virginia.

CDC issued a HAN Health Update to provide additional information about the outbreak of monkeypox virus (MPXV) in the DRC.

Guidance updates include: Revising scenarios to apply to healthcare personnel or patients who experience exposure to mpox virus in a healthcare setting and adjusting risk categories based on current evidence.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is updating the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting (IQR) Program to require acute care hospitals and critical access hospitals to electronically report information via NHSN about COVID-19, influenza, and RSV beginning November 1, 2024. This reported information will help provide situational awareness of the impact of these respiratory diseases. 

Guidance for preventing exposures to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) viruses and infection prevention and control measures, including the use of personal protective equipment, testing, antiviral treatment, patient investigations, monitoring of exposed persons, and antiviral chemoprophylaxis of exposed persons.

H5 bird flu is widespread in wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows with two cases of H5 in U.S. dairy workers. While the current public health risk is low, CDC is watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures. CDC is using its flu surveillance systems to monitor for H5N1 activity in people.

Since April 2024, 12 cases of meningococcal disease linked to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) travel for Umrah have been reported to national public health agencies in multiple countries including the United States (U.S.). Healthcare providers in the U.S. should: Recommend quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccination for people considering travel to KSA to perform Hajj or Umah (pilgrims) in addition to routine meningococcal vaccination for adolescents and other people at increased meningococcal disease risk. Maintain a heightened index of suspicion for meningococcal disease. Immediately notify the local health department about suspected or confirmed cases of meningococcal disease. Consider postexposure prophylaxis.