[Federal Register: June 14, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 113)]
[Notices]
[Page 33034]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14jn04-87]
[[Page 33034]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Draft Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing
Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings 2004
AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of
Health and Human Services (DHHS).
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comment.
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SUMMARY: This notice is a request for review of and comment on the
Draft Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of
Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings 2004, available on the CDC Web
site at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/hip/isoguide.htm. This document is for use
by infection control staff, healthcare epidemiologists, healthcare
administrators, and other persons responsible for developing,
implementing, and evaluating infection control programs for healthcare
settings across the continuum of care. The guideline updates and
expands the 1996 Guideline for Isolation Precautions in Hospitals.
DATES: Comments on the Draft Guideline for Isolation Precautions:
Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings
2004 must be received in writing on or before August 13, 2004.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for copies of the Draft
Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of
Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings 2004 should be submitted to
the Resource Center, Attention: ISOGuide, Division of Healthcare
Quality Promotion, CDC, Mailstop E-68, 1600 Clifton Rd., NE., Atlanta,
Georgia 30333; fax 404 498-1244; e-mail: isorequests@cdc.gov; or
Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/hip/isoguide.htm.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the Draft Guideline for Isolation Precautions:
Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings
2004 should be submitted to the Resource Center, Attention: ISOGuide,
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, CDC, Mailstop E-68, 1600
Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, Georgia 30333; fax 404 498-1244; e-mail:
isocomments@cdc.gov; or Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/hip/isoguide.htm.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Draft Guideline for Isolation
Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare
Settings 2004 addresses new concerns about transmission of infection to
patients and healthcare workers in hospitals and in long-term care,
outpatient, home care, and other healthcare settings in the United
States. The primary objective of the 5-part guideline is to improve the
safety of the nation's healthcare delivery system. Part I reviews the
scientific data regarding the transmission of infectious agents in
healthcare settings and discusses emerging pathogens of special
concern, including multidrug-resistant organisms and agents of
bioterrorism. Part II discusses the fundamental infection control
elements needed to prevent transmission of these agents. Part III
reviews the two tiers of transmission precautions (i.e., Standard
Precautions and Expanded Precautions) developed by the Healthcare
Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). New issues
addressed in the guideline include Respiratory Hygiene/Cough Etiquette,
which is intended to prevent transmission of respiratory pathogens at
the first point of contact within a healthcare setting; Protective
Environment, which is designed to protect allogeneic hematopoietic stem
cell transplant patients; and strategies for control of multidrug-
resistant organisms. Part IV contains the consensus recommendations of
HICPAC for preventing the transmission of infectious agents in
healthcare settings. Part V provides suggested performance measures to
assist healthcare facility staff in monitoring success in
implementation of key recommendations in the guideline.
HICPAC was established in 1991 to provide advice and guidance to
the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary for Health, DHHS; the
Director, CDC; and the Director, National Center for Infectious
Diseases, regarding the practice of infection control and strategies
for surveillance, prevention, and control of healthcare-associated
infections in U.S. healthcare facilities. The committee advises CDC on
guidelines and other policy statements regarding prevention of
healthcare-associated infections and related adverse events.
Dated: June 3, 2004.
James D. Seligman,
Associate Director for Program Services, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-13265 Filed 6-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P