[Federal Register: March 6, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 44)]
[Notices]
[Page 13539-13540]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06mr01-106]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Draft Guideline for Environmental Infection Control in Healthcare
Facilities, 2001
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 Environmental Infection Control in Healthcare
Facilities, 2001.'' The guideline consists of two parts, references,
and appendices. Part I is entitled ``Background Information:
Environmental Infection Control in Healthcare Facilities,'' and Part II
is entitled ``Recommendations for Environmental Infection Control in
Healthcare Facilities.'' The document was prepared by the Healthcare
Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC), the Division
of Healthcare Quality Promotion (formerly Hospital Infections Program),
the Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, and the Division of
Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID), and
the Division of Oral Health, National Center for Chronic Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC.
DATES: Comments on the draft document must be submitted in writing on
or before April 20, 2001.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the Draft Guideline for Environmental Infection
Control in Healthcare Facilities, 2001 should be submitted to the
Resource Center, Attention: EnviroGuide, Division of Healthcare Quality
Promotion, CDC, Mailstop E-68, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, Georgia
30333; fax: 404-639-6459; e-mail: envirocomments@cdc.gov; or Internet
URL: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/hip/enviro/guide.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for copies of the Draft
Guideline for Environmental Infection Control in Healthcare Facilities,
2001 should be submitted to the Resource Center, Division of Healthcare
Quality Promotion, CDC, Mailstop E-68, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta,
Georgia 30333; fax: 404-639-6459; e-mail: envirorequests@cdc.gov; or
Internet URL: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/hip/enviro/guide.htm.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 2-part document updates and replaces
portions of the previously published CDC Guideline for Handwashing and
Hospital Environmental Control and the Environmental Infection Control
portions of the CDC Guideline for Prevention of Nosocomial Pneumonia,
1994. Part I, ``Background Information: Environmental Infection Control
in Healthcare Facilities,'' serves as the background for the consensus
recommendations of HICPAC that are contained in Part II,
``Recommendations for Environmental Infection Control in Healthcare
Facilities.'' This guideline also identifies key process management
elements to assist facilities in monitoring compliance with the
evidence-based Category IA or IB recommendations provided in Part II.
These include: (1) Conducting risk assessment prior to construction,
renovation, demolition, or major repair projects; (2) conducting
ventilation assessments related to construction barrier installation;
(3) establishing and maintaining appropriate pressure differentials for
special care areas [e.g., operating rooms, airborne infection
isolation, protective environments]; (4) evaluating non-tuberculous
mycobacteria culture results for possible environmental sources; and
(5) implementing infection control procedures to prevent environmental
spread of antibiotic-resistant gram-positive cocci and assuring
compliance with these procedures.
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, NCID, regarding the
[[Page 13540]]
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: February 28, 2001.
Joseph R. Carter,
Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 01-5376 Filed 3-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P