Guidance & Regulation Updates

This Health Advisory summarizes CDC recommendations for U.S. public health departments, clinical laboratories, and healthcare workers about potential Ebola virus disease case identification, testing, and biosafety considerations in clinical laboratories.  

This updated webpage provides fundamental elements to prevent measles transmission within healthcare facilities. Healthcare personnel (HCP) immunization is highlighted as a first-line defense as well as the rapid identification and isolation of patients with suspected/confirmed measles. HCP education on respiratory protection and hand hygiene are also mentioned.

This implementation guide provides information and tools to reduce the risk of infection due to catheter-associated bloodstream infections in various practice settings for adults.

State, local, and jurisdictional health department officials are instructed to promptly investigate suspected cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus infection and to notify the CDC within 24 hours of identifying such cases. Individuals exposed to HPAI A(H5N1) virus-infected birds, dairy cows, or other animals, including those using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), must be monitored for acute respiratory illness and conjunctivitis symptoms for 10 days following their last exposure.

Clinician Letter: Updates on Measles and Syphilis in Virginia (6/10/2025) Measles and syphilis are both on the rise in Virginia. Clinicians are encouraged to stay alert for measles and help identify and reduce the spread of syphilis in Virginia.

Health Alert: Use Only Sterile Ultrasound Gel for Percutaneous Procedures (5/13/2025) An ongoing multistate investigation involves the use of non-sterile ultrasound gel during ultrasound-guided percutaneous procedures. An environmental bacterium Paraburkholderia fungorum has been identified from patient cultures and non-sterile ultrasound gel products. CDC recommends using only single-use ultrasound gel products labeled as "sterile" to reduce the risk of infection during ultrasonography for preparatory and procedural applications, including central and peripheral intravenous line placement, amniocentesis, paracentesis, tissue biopsies, and surgical interventions.

Guidance Update: Safe Injection, Infusion, Medication Vial, and Point-of-care Testing Practices in Health Care (5/12/2025) Updated evidence-based guidance on safe injection, infusion, vials, and point-of-care testing, including new recommendations on contrast injection, drug diversion, and personal protective equipment.

CMS published proposed rules for prospective payment systems and quality reporting programs for multiple healthcare facility types. FY2026 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System - Proposed Rule (4/30/2025) FY2026 Prospective Payment System for Skilled Nursing Facilities and Updates to the Quality Reporting Program – Proposed Rule (4/30/2025) FY2026 Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System and Quality Reporting Program - Proposed Rule (4/30/2025) FY2026 Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System - Proposed Rule (4/30/2025) Content within these proposals applicable to infection prevention and control includes technical updates to National Healthcare […]

In partnership with multiple other organizations, SHEA developed Multisociety Guidance for Sterilization and High-level Disinfection, an infection prevention guidance document for individuals and organizations that engage in sterilization or high-level disinfection. This resource builds on the 2008 CDC Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities

Long-Term Care (LTC) Surveyor Guidance has been revised to enhanced quality and oversight of the LTC survey process. This includes edits to the infection prevention and control and COVID-19 immunization portions of the guidance. Surveyors began using this guidance on surveys starting on April 28, 2025.