The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its COVID-19 infection control guidance for health care settings, including home health.
Updates as of Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, include an update to note that vaccination status is no longer used to inform source control, screening testing or post-exposure recommendations. The guidance also clarifies that screening testing of asymptomatic healthcare personnel is at the discretion of the healthcare facility.
Regarding potential exposure at work, CDC updated guidance for higher-risk exposures (prolonged close contact with a patient, visitor or health care personnel (HCP) with confirmed COVID-19 infection).
“In general, asymptomatic HCP who have had a higher-risk exposure do not require work restriction, regardless of vaccination status, if they do not develop symptoms or test positive for SARS-CoV-2,” the CDC update noted.
Other updates regarding health care settings include:
- Updated circumstances when use of source control is recommended.
- Updated circumstances when universal use of personal protective equipment should be considered.
- Updated recommendations for testing frequency to detect potential for variants with shorter incubation periods and to address the risk for false negative antigen tests in people without symptoms.
- Updated to note that, in general, asymptomatic patients no longer require empiric use of Transmission-Based Precautions following close contact with someone with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Clarified the types of long-term care settings for whom the healthcare infection prevention and control recommendations apply.