The co-presenters also reviewed documents from the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America ( SHEA ), an organization with which APIC collaborates regularly . Previously published guidance documents include Strategies to Prevent MRSA 2023 , C . diff 2023 , SSI 2023 , hand hygiene 2023 , CLABSI 2022 , VAP / VAE / NV-HAP 2022 , and the NICU whitepaper series : CLABSI 2022 .

“ There is some high-level evidence in those essential practices , so just be careful when you ’ re looking at that ,” advised Ormsby . “ The recommendation says if it ’ s low , medium or high . When you ’ re adopting these strategies or building it into policies or interventions or quality improvement products , it then has a category of additional measures or approaches that you can use if you have a cluster or an outbreak ; it tells you what else you could be doing on top of the essential practices . I recommend that everybody uses the essential practices first and only using the additional approaches if you have an issue and you ’ ve already implemented all the essential practices .”

The co-presenters reviewed updates from the Association for perioperative Registered Nurses ( AORN ). The updated Surgical Attire guideline was released this February and addresses the topics of head coverings , changing attire when returning to the operating room ( OR ), and cleaning of ID badges , stethoscopes , and handheld devices . “ There are some big points and changes , so I would reference that document if you ’ re updating your surgical attire policy or doing a gap analysis ,” advised Ormsby .

AORN ’ s updated Sterile Technique guideline , released this April , addresses double gloving / glove changing every 60 minutes to 150 minutes , as well as draping , timing matters , allowing PAPRs , addressing airborne contamination , cleaning / disinfecting radiation protective garments , and limiting movement within the OR .

“ One thing of note in this guideline is the glove-changing every 60 to 150 minutes during certain surgeries ,” said Ormsby . “ There ’ s a table , depending on the type of surgery , for how often you should be changing your gloves In the OR . I ’ ll be honest , that was news to me in my practice . So , that may be challenging , but I hope some of you are already implementing that .”

AORN ’ s updated Sterilization guideline is due to come out in October and was open for comment from May to June . Additionally , Ormsby said , the Packaging for Sterilization guideline will have a public comment period from July to August this year .

There are several guidelines coming soon from SHEA , the co-presenters noted , including :

• Guidance for High Level Disinfection & Sterilization

• Infection Prevention in the Long-Term Care Facility

• Clinical practice guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis in surgery

• Necessary Infrastructure of Infection Prevention and Healthcare Epidemiology Programs

• Implementation Guide

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