New infection control guidelines to protect healthcare workers will include the following overall program elements and specifically address the list of pathogens below, according to the CDC.
Elements of Occupational Health Services for Infection Prevention:
- leadership and management (including performance measures & quality improvement);
- collaboration and communication (within and outside health organization);
- risk assessment in the healthcare facility;
- medical evaluations (preplacement, periodic, and episodic; including counseling);
- health and safety education and training;
- immunization programs;
- management of potentially infectious illnesses and exposures;
- records, data management, confidentiality, and reporting.
The CDC guidelines will address protecting workers from a broad range of infectious agents, including the following selected infections transmitted among healthcare personnel and patients:
- acute GI infections (norovirus, C. difficile, others);
- bloodborne pathogens (HIV, HBV, HCV);
- conjunctivitis;
- cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease;
- diphtheria;
- hepatitis A;
- herpes simplex;
- measles;
- meningococcal disease;
- multidrug-resistant gram negative bacteria;
- mumps;
- parvovirus;
- pertussis;
- poliomyelitis;
- rabies;
- rubella;
- scabies and pediculosis;
- Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA, MRSA);
- Streptococcus (group A);
- tuberculosis;
- vaccinia;
- varicella;
- viral respiratory infections (influenza, RSV, others);
- potential agents of bioterrorism (i.e., anthrax).
New infection control guidelines to protect healthcare workers will include the following overall program elements and specifically address the list of pathogens, according to the CDC.
You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
- Award-winning Medical Content
- Latest Advances & Development in Medicine
- Unbiased Content