ANA Applauds CDC’s Return of HICPAC Recommendations

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SILVER SPRING, MD – In November, the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) shared recommendations for updating guidance on preventing transmission of pathogens in healthcare settings with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The guidelines do not specify that an N95 respirator is preferable to a loose-fitting surgical mask. Additionally, the recommendation fails to urge nurses and healthcare professionals to wear N95 masks as a minimum level of protection when working with patients who have suspected or confirmed respiratory infections.

ANA applauds the CDC for sending HICPAC’s recommendations back to the committee as insufficient.

“We are glad the CDC is prioritizing evidence-based guidelines on what will offer the highest level of protection for healthcare professionals. With all that we’ve asked our nurses to sacrifice over the years, most notably, their own health, wellbeing, and lives, ensuring that federal guidelines protect them by requiring adequate PPE should never again be a topic for conversation. It should be a given,” said ANA President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN.

ANA will continue to monitor HICPAC’s revisions to their recommendations, and advocate for final CDC guidance that includes the highest standards of protection for nurses.

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The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the premier organization representing the interests of the nation's more than 5 million registered nurses. ANA advances the profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting a safe and ethical work environment, bolstering the health and wellness of nurses, and advocating on health care issues that affect nurses and the public. ANA is at the forefront of improving the quality of health care for all. For more information, visit www.nursingworld.org.