Upcoming HICPAC Public Meeting Information

The next Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) meeting is scheduled for August 22, 2024, 9 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. ET. The meeting will be virtual and streamed live on YouTube. HICPAC meetings are open to the public and registration is not required to watch the meeting webcasts. A link to the meeting webcast will be posted on the upcoming meeting page shortly before the meeting. 

The primary purpose of HICPAC meetings is to review and discuss emerging issues, research, and data related to infection prevention and control in healthcare settings. Typical meeting agenda items include discussion of new or revised recommendations, evaluation of recent research findings, and review of data on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial resistance.

Meeting Agenda

The August 2024 agenda, posted on the HICPAC meeting webpage, includes brief updates from three of HICPAC’s workgroups:

• Isolation Precautions Workgroup. Learn more about updates to the 2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions 
• Dental Unit Waterlines Workgroup  
• Infection Control in Healthcare Personnel Workgroup 

CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion will also present to the Committee a proposed updated framework to transparently outline the types of evidence used to support recommendations. This is an update to an existing HICPAC framework that was produced in 2017.

Voting is planned during this meeting on draft updates to the cytomegalovirus (CMV) section of Infection Control in Healthcare Personnel Guideline and the draft updates for selected Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHF): Appendix A, both of which have completed the public comment process through the Federal Register. 

Premeeting materials, where available, will be posted to the meeting page a few days prior to the meeting.

Following the August meeting, the workgroups will continue working on the issues and may provide another update at the November meeting. 

HICPAC Members

The HICPAC members serve voluntarily to advise U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and CDC, regarding the practice of infection control and strategies for surveillance, prevention, and control of healthcare-associated infections, antimicrobial resistance, and related events in settings where healthcare is provided.

New HICPAC members have been approved by the HHS and have been added to the official roster in August 2024. The Committee will welcome new members and their expertise on August 22:

• Katherine (Kate) Ellingson, PhD – infection prevention, patient safety, long-term care
• Lela Luper, BSN, RN – infection prevention, patient safety
• Lisa Baum, MA – occupational risk management, safety hazards and controls

HICPAC Workgroups

The Committee assigns workgroups to review relevant published and unpublished data and develop findings, observations and/or outcomes for HICPAC to consider when developing advice and recommendations to CDC.  

Workgroups are responsible for collection, analysis, and preparation of information for presentation, discussion, deliberation, and vote by the HICPAC in an open public forum. Workgroups review specific topics in detail and clarify issues in a way that helps HICPAC voting members make informed and efficient decisions, with the best and most current information available. 

Workgroups are composed of at least two HICPAC voting members and other invited consultants with expertise in the area under review. HICPAC has expanded the scope of interests and technical backgrounds of workgroup members participating on the HICPAC Isolation Precautions Guideline Workgroups to expand the perspectives and expertise contributing to the guidance. 

Stay informed on HICPAC updates by signing up to receive e-mail alerts when new blogs post here. Search “Safe Healthcare Blog” on the CDC News & Updates Manage Subscriptions page. Additional information is also available on the HICPAC website.