AIHA Members Invited to Participate in Infection Control Workgroup

The Occupational Health and Safety section of the American Public Health Association (APHA) is forming a workgroup in response to CDC’s recent announcement that it has sent draft guidelines on infection control in healthcare settings back to the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) for further development.

According to Jane Thomason, CIH, lead industrial hygienist for National Nurses United (NNU), the workgroup will draft a statement on elements that HICPAC should include in the guidelines such as the importance of ventilation and respiratory protection. All AIHA members are invited to participate, Thomason said.

The draft guidelines have drawn criticism from AIHA, NNU, and other organizations for being less protective of healthcare workers than current guidance. When HICPAC sent the draft guidelines to CDC in November 2023, they were expected to be published in the Federal Register. Instead, CDC directed HICPAC to address questions that reflect stakeholders’ concerns. CDC also announced that it would expand HICPAC to include new members with technical backgrounds that will help the committee respond to CDC’s questions.

AIHA members interested in serving on the APHA workgroup should contact Thomason via email.