Canada Adopts Nationwide Needlestick Surveillance System-EPINet

CDC’s TB Guidelines to Be Available for Public Comment Revised federal guidelines for TB control to reduce risk of nosocomial transmission in healthcare facilities are being circulated among CDC advisory panels for comment. After incorporating the latest round of suggestions, the draft guidelines will be published in the Federal Register for public comment. The latest draft emphasizes early identification, worker education, and hierarchy of controls with administrative and engineering controls ranking above personal respiratory protection. The draft also stresses the importance of conducting a risk assessment of one’s facility to determine the level of risk for various departments and services so follow-up surveillance is based on the level of risk. Recirculation of air through high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration and the use of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation are listed as possible interim measures for control of airborne contaminants. Specific recommendations for the immunocompromised healthcare worker are provided, including providing voluntary work reassignment options.