Preventing Aerosol-Transmissible 

Diseases in Healthcare Settings: 

The Need for Protective 

Guidelines and Standards 

 

 

 

 

COVID-19 was not recognized as an aerosol transmissible disease by Centers for Disease Control (CDC) until May of 2021. This resulted in exceptionally high rates of infection and many deaths among healthcare workers and patients. 


The "Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings", produced in 2007, is currently being updated by the CDC's Healthcare Infection Control and Prevention Advisory Committee (HICPAC). 


These updated guidelines will form the basis for state and local health departments’ recommendations to prevent future infectious disease exposures and outbreaks in healthcare settings. 


The revision process has lacked transparency and input from outside the Committee, and the preliminary draft recommendations have been described as weak and ineffective. 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13 

12:00 - 3:00 PM EST 

                                                                                                                         Speaker

Lisa Brosseau, University of Minnesota 

Mitchel Rosen, Rutgers University


Justin Chan, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue



Jane Thomason, National Nurses United


Invited Stakeholders


Donald Milton, University of Maryland 

                             School of Public Health


Moderator:

Kate McPhaul, University of Maryland 

                            School of Public Health 

Participants:

Justin Chan, NYC Health and Hospitals/Bellevue 

Jane Thomason, National Nurses United 

Nancy Hagans, National Nurses United 

Amber Mitchell, International Safety Center


Invited Stakeholders


Raymond Tellier, McGill University



William Bahnfleth, The Pennsylvania State University



Lisa M Brosseau, University of Minnesota



Moderator: 

David Michaels, George Washington University 

Participants:

Raymond Tellier, University of McGill 

William Bahnfleth, The Pennsylvania State University Lisa M Brosseau, University of Minnesota 

Barbara Materna – California Department of 

                                    Public Health (retired)


Invited Stakeholders


Lisa Brosseau, University of Minnesota 


Mitchel Rosen, Rutgers University



Jane Thomason, National Nurses United

Welcome

Workshop Overview and Goals


Overview of Current CDC Guidelines for Isolation Precautions


CDC/HICPAC Update & Draft Recommendations


Voices From the Front Lines


Aerosol Transmission in Healthcare – Update on the Science & Epidemiology

Q&A – Incorporating Current Science into New CDC Guidelines








Stakeholder Testimony and Views


Aerosol Transmission: Examples of Influenza and COVID-19


Ventilation Control for Aerosol Transmissible Pathogens in Healthcare


Personal Protective Equipment for Aerosol Transmissible Pathogens in Healthcare


Q&A – Impact of New Guidelines on Healthcare









Stakeholder Testimony and Views


Workshop Summary 


Summary of Workshop Participant 

Recommendations 


Information on next HICPAC meeting


co-sponsors