The Trump administration has disbanded the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC), which had been instrumental in establishing national standards for infection control, including guidelines for hand-washing, mask-wearing, and isolating sick patients in healthcare facilities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) informed committee members of the termination on a recent virtual meeting, stating that it took effect on March 31, aligning with an executive order aimed at reducing the federal workforce.
Concerns have arisen among the committee members regarding the potential freezing of guidelines that are crucial for adapting to emerging scientific findings and the rise of drug-resistant bacteria, posing threats to patient safety in hospitals. Some members, such as Connie Steed and Dr. Anurag Malani, expressed worries that the lack of updated guidelines could leave healthcare providers unprepared. Malani noted that HICPAC was close to finalizing new guidelines for airborne pathogens, a significant step given that existing recommendations had not been updated since 2007.
Jane Thomason, a lead hygienist, criticized the termination, stating it diminishes public transparency and access to the process of drafting CDC infection control guidelines. With HICPAC’s termination, there are fears that local and state health departments may lack coordination in infection control practices. Historically, HICPAC has made over 540 recommendations to the CDC since its inception, with a 90% implementation rate. Members emphasized the need for consistent infection control practices nationally, highlighting the loss of a vital resource for public health safety.
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