[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13539-13540]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5376]


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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: [email protected]; 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: [email protected]; 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