CDC updates guidelines to prevent infections in health care personnel

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Friday released an update to its 1998 guidelines to prevent and control infection in the health care workplace, including special considerations associated with emergency response personnel and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Intended for health care leaders and staff who address workplace health and safety, the updated guidelines apply to a broader range of health care settings, including hospital-based, long-term care and outpatient settings. New topics include using performance measures to track and guide quality improvement initiatives to prevent and control infections. CDC plans additional updates to the guidelines in the future.