General Guidelines

The Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, 2008 presents evidence-based recommendations on the preferred methods for cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of patient-care medical devices and for cleaning and disinfecting the healthcare environment. Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, 2008 [PDF - 948 KB]

2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings This document is intended for use by infection control staff, healthcare epidemiologists, healthcare administrators, nurses, other healthcare providers, and persons responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating infection control programs for healthcare settings across the continuum of care. Complete PDF version available for download Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings 2007 [PDF - 3.80 MB]

Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities June 6, 2003 / 52(RR10);1-42 The Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities is a compilation of recommendations for the prevention and control of infectious diseases that are associated with healthcare environments.
Available for download [PDF - 1.4 MB]

Guidance on Public Reporting of Healthcare-Associated Infections: Recommendations HICPAC has developed this guidance document based on established principles for public health and HAI reporting systems. This document is intended to assist policymakers, program planners, consumer advocacy organizations, and others tasked with designing and implementing public reporting systems for HAIs.
Available for download [PDF - 150 KB]

2011 Guidelines for the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Related Infections
These guidelines have been developed for healthcare personnel who insert intravascular catheters and for persons responsible for surveillance and control of infections in hospital, outpatient, and home healthcare settings. 2011 Guidelines for the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Related Infections [PDF - 1.05 MB]
Also see: Checklist for Prevention of Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infections [PDF - 177 KB]

Guideline for Prevention of Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infections 2009
In addition to updating the previous 1981 guideline, this revised guideline reviews the available evidence on CAUTI prevention for patients requiring chronic indwelling catheters and individuals who can be managed with alternative methods of urinary drainage (e.g., intermittent catheterization). The revised guideline also includes specific recommendations for implementation, performance measurement, and surveillance.

• Available for download [PDF - 407 KB]
  Appendices - Guideline for Prevention of CAUTI 2009 [PDF - 4.41 MB]
• CAUTI Guideline Fast Facts
• Watch this Podcast: Dr. Sanjay Saint discusses Catheter-associated UTIs

Guideline for Preventing Healthcare-Associated Pneumonia , 2003 This report updates, expands, and replaces the previously published CDC "Guideline for Prevention of Nosocomial Pneumonia". The new guidelines are designed to reduce the incidence of health-care-associated pneumonia and other severe, acute lower respiratory tract infections in acute-care hospitals and in other health-care settings (e.g., ambulatory and long-term care institutions) and other facilities where health care is provided.
Available for download [PDF - 811 KB]

Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, 1999
This document is primarily intended for use by surgeons, operating room nurses, postoperative inpatient and clinic nurses, infection control professionals, anesthesiologists, healthcare epidemiologists, and other personnel directly responsible for the prevention of nosocomial infections. Available for download [PDF - 271 KB]

Watch this CDC Expert Commentary on Preventing Norovirus Transmission: New Guidelines Released

Guideline for the Prevention and Control of Norovirus Gastroenteritis Outbreaks in Healthcare Settings, 2011
This guideline addresses prevention and control of norovirus gastroenteritis outbreaks in healthcare settings. The guideline also includes specific recommendations for implementation, performance measurement, and surveillance. Recommendations for further research are provided to address knowledge gaps identified during the literature review in the prevention and control of norovirus gastroenteritis outbreaks. Guidance for norovirus outbreak management and disease prevention in non-healthcare settings can be found:

• Updated Norovirus Outbreak Management and Disease Prevention Guidelines [PDF - 850 KB]
• Download the complete PDF version Guideline for the Prevention and Control of Norovirus Gastroenteritis Outbreaks in Healthcare Settings, 2011 [PDF - 676 KB] and Appendices [PDF - 3.48 MB].

Management of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms In Healthcare Settings, 2006 The prevention and control of MDROs is a national priority - one that requires that all healthcare facilities and agencies assume responsibility. The following recommendations are provided to guide the implementation of strategies and practices to prevent the transmission of MRSA, VRE, and other MDROs.
Available for download [PDF - 233 KB]

Guidance for Control of Infections with Carbapenem-Resistant or Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in Acute Care Facilities MMWR March 20, 2009 / 58(10);256-260
In light of the clinical and infection control challenges posed by CRE and advances in the ability to detect these pathogens, CDC and HICPAC have developed new guidance for CRE infection prevention and control in an effort to limit the further emergence of these organisms. These recommendations are based on strategies outlined in the 2006 HICPAC guidelines for management of multidrug-resistant organisms in health-care settings. Available for download [PDF 1.18 MB]

Influenza Vaccination of Health-Care Personnel, 2006 Please note: An erratum has been published for this article. View the erratum. MMWR February, 2006/55(RR02);1-16
HICPAC and ACIP recommend that all health-care personnel be vaccinated annually against influenza. Facilities that employ HCP are strongly encouraged to provide vaccine to their staff by using evidence-based approaches that maximize vaccination rates.
Available for download [PDF - 628 KB]

Guideline for Infection Control in Hospital Personnel 1998 [PDF 1.04 MB]
This guideline updates and replaces the previous edition of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “Guideline for Infection Control in Hospital Personnel,” published in 1983. The revised guideline, designed to provide methods for reducing the transmission of infections from patients to health care personnel and from personnel to patients, also provides an overview of the evidence for recommendations considered prudent by consensus of the Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee members.

Immunization of Health-Care Workers: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) MMRW November 25, 2011 / 60(RR07);1-45
This report updates the previously published summary of recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Healthcare (formerly Hospital) Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) for vaccinating health-care personnel (HCP) in the United States