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Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities

Summary

The health-care facility environment is rarely implicated in disease transmission, except among patients who are immunocompromised. Nonetheless, inadvertent exposures to environmental pathogens (e.g., Aspergillus spp. and Legionella spp.) or airborne pathogens (e.g., Mycobacterium tuberculosis and varicella-zoster virus) can result in adverse patient outcomes and cause illness among health-care workers. Environmental infection-control strategies and engineering controls can effectively prevent these infections. The incidence of health-care--associated infections and pseudo-outbreaks can be minimized by 1) appropriate use of cleaners and disinfectants; 2) appropriate maintenance of medical equipment (e.g., automated endoscope reprocessors or hydrotherapy equipment); 3) adherence to water-quality standards for hemodialysis, and to ventilation standards for specialized care environments (e.g., airborne infection isolation rooms, protective environments, or operating rooms); and 4) prompt management of water intrusion into the facility. Routine environmental sampling is not usually advised, except for water quality determinations in hemodialysis settings and other situations where sampling is directed by epidemiologic principles, and results can be applied directly to infection-control decisions.

This report reviews previous guidelines and strategies for preventing environment-associated infections in health-care facilities and offers recommendations. These include 1) evidence-based recommendations supported by studies; 2) requirements of federal agencies (e.g., Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and U.S. Department of Justice); 3) guidelines and standards from building and equipment professional organizations (e.g., American Institute of Architects, Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, and American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers); 4) recommendations derived from scientific theory or rationale; and 5) experienced opinions based upon infection-control and engineering practices. The report also suggests a series of performance measurements as a means to evaluate infection-control efforts.

Introduction

This report, which contains the complete list of recommendations with pertinent references, is Part II of Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities. The full four-part guidelines will be available on CDC's Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP) website. Relative to previous CDC guidelines, this report

• revises multiple sections (e.g., cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces, environmental sampling, laundry and bedding, and regulated medical waste) from previous editions of CDC's Guideline for Handwashing and Hospital Environmental Control;
• incorporates discussions of air and water environmental concerns from CDC's Guideline for Prevention of Nosocomial Pneumonia;
• consolidates relevant environmental infection-control measures from other CDC guidelines; and
• includes two topics not addressed in previous CDC guidelines --- infection-control concerns related to animals in health-care facilities and water quality in hemodialysis settings.

In the full guidelines, Part I, Background Information: Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities, provides a comprehensive review of the relevant scientific literature. Attention is given to engineering and infection-control concerns during construction, demolition, renovation, and repair of health-care facilities. Use of an infection-control risk assessment is strongly supported before the start of these or any other activities expected to generate dust or water aerosols. Also reviewed in Part I are infection-control measures used to recover from catastrophic events (e.g., flooding, sewage spills, loss of electricity and ventilation, or disruption of water supply) and the limited effects of environmental surfaces, laundry, plants, animals, medical wastes, cloth furnishings, and carpeting on disease transmission in health-care facilities. Part III and Part IV of the full guidelines provide references (for the complete guideline) and appendices, respectively.

Part II (this report) contains recommendations for environmental infection control in health-care facilities, describing control measures for preventing infections associated with air, water, or other elements of the environment. These recommendations represent the views of different divisions within CDC's National Center for Infectious Diseases and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC), a 12-member group that advises CDC on concerns related to the surveillance, prevention, and control of health-care--associated infections, primarily in U.S. health-care facilities. In 1999, HICPAC's infection-control focus was expanded from acute-care hospitals to all venues where health care is provided (e.g., outpatient surgical centers, urgent care centers, clinics, outpatient dialysis centers, physicians' offices, and skilled nursing facilities). The topics addressed in this report are applicable to the majority of health-care facilities in the United States. This report is intended for use primarily by infection-control practitioners, epidemiologists, employee health and safety personnel, engineers, facility managers, information systems professionals, administrators, environmental service professionals, and architects. Key recommendations include

• infection-control impact of ventilation system and water system performance;
• establishment of a multidisciplinary team to conduct infection-control risk assessment;
• use of dust-control procedures and barriers during construction, repair, renovation, or demolition;
• environmental infection-control measures for special areas with patients at high risk;
• use of airborne-particle sampling to monitor the effectiveness of air filtration and dust-control measures;
• procedures to prevent airborne contamination in operating rooms when infectious tuberculosis (TB) patients require surgery;
• guidance regarding appropriate indications for routine culturing of water as part of a comprehensive control program for legionellae;
• guidance for recovering from water-system disruptions, water leaks, and natural disasters (e.g., flooding);
• infection-control concepts for equipment using water from main lines (e.g., water systems for hemodialysis, ice machines, hydrotherapy equipment, dental unit water lines, and automated endoscope reprocessors);
• environmental surface cleaning and disinfection strategies with respect to antibiotic-resistant microorganisms;
• infection-control procedures for health-care laundry;
• use of animals in health care for activities and therapy;
• managing the presence of service animals in health-care facilities;
• infection-control strategies for when animals receive treatment in human health-care facilities; and
• a call to reinstate the practice of inactivating amplified cultures and stocks of microorganisms onsite during medical waste treatment.

Topics outside the scope of this report include 1) noninfectious adverse events (e.g., sick building syndrome), 2) environmental concerns in the home, 3) home health care, 4) terrorism, and 5) health-care--associated foodborne illness.

Wherever possible, the recommendations in this report are based on data from well-designed scientific studies. However, certain of these studies were conducted by using narrowly defined patient populations or specific health-care settings (e.g., hospitals versus long-term care facilities), making generalization of findings potentially problematic. Construction standards for hospitals or other health-care facilities may not apply to residential home-care units. Similarly, infection-control measures indicated for immunosuppressed patient care are usually not necessary in those facilities where such patients are not present.

Other recommendations were derived from knowledge gained during infectious disease investigations in health-care facilities, where successful termination of the outbreak was often the result of multiple interventions, the majority of which cannot be independently and rigorously evaluated. This is especially true for construction situations involving air or water.

Other recommendations were derived from empiric engineering concepts and may reflect industry standards rather than evidence-based conclusions. Where recommendations refer to guidance from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the statements reflect standards intended for new construction or renovation. Existing structures and engineered systems are expected to be in continued compliance with those standards in effect at the time of construction or renovation.

Also, in the absence of scientific confirmation, certain infection-control recommendations that cannot be rigorously evaluated are based on strong theoretic rationale and suggestive evidence. Finally, certain recommendations are derived from existing federal regulations.

Performance Measurements

Infections caused by the microorganisms described in this guideline are rare events, and the effect of these recommendations on infection rates in a facility may not be readily measurable. Therefore, the following steps to measure performance are suggested to evaluate these recommendations:

1. Document whether infection-control personnel are actively involved in all phases of a health-care facility's demolition, construction, and renovation. Activities should include performing a risk assessment of the necessary types of construction barriers, and daily monitoring and documenting of the presence of negative airflow within the construction zone or renovation area.
2. Monitor and document daily the negative airflow in AII rooms and positive airflow in PE rooms, especially when patients are in these rooms.
3. Perform assays at least once a month by using standard quantitative methods for endotoxin in water used to reprocess hemodialyzers, and for heterotrophic and mesophilic bacteria in water used to prepare dialysate and for hemodialyzer reprocessing.
4. Evaluate possible environmental sources (e.g., water, laboratory solutions, or reagents) of specimen contamination when nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) of unlikely clinical importance are isolated from clinical cultures. If environmental contamination is found, eliminate the probable mechanisms.
5. Document policies to identify and respond to water damage. Such policies should result in either repair and drying of wet structural or porous materials within 72 hours, or removal of the wet material if drying is unlikely within 72 hours.

Contributors to this report reviewed primarily English-language manuscripts identified from reference searches using the National Library of Medicine's MEDLINE, bibliographies of published articles, and infection-control textbooks. All the recommendations may not reflect the opinions of all reviewers. This report updates the following published guidelines and recommendations:

CDC. Guideline for handwashing and hospital environmental control. MMWR 1998;37(No. 24). Replaces sections on microbiologic sampling, laundry, infective waste, and housekeeping.

Tablan OC, Anderson LJ, Arden NH, et al., Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Guideline for prevention of nosocomial pneumonia. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1994;15:587--627. Updates and expands environmental infection-control information for aspergillosis and Legionnaires disease; online version incorporates Appendices B, C, and D addressing environmental control and detection of Legionella spp.

CDC. Guidelines for preventing the transmission of mycobacterium tuberculosis in health-care facilities. MMWR 1994;43(No. RR13). Provides supplemental information on engineering controls.

CDC. Recommendations for preventing the spread of vancomycin resistance: recommendations of the Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). MMWR 1995;44(No. RR12). Supplements environmental infection-control information from the section, Hospitals with Endemic VRE or Continued VRE Transmission.

Garner JS, Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Guideline for isolation precautions in hospitals. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1996;17:53--80. Supplements and updates topics in Part II --- Recommendations for Isolation Precautions in Hospitals (linen and laundry, routine and terminal cleaning, airborne precautions).

Mangram AJ, Horan TC, Pearson ML, Silver LC, Jarvis WR, Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Guideline for prevention of surgical site infection. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1999;4:250--78. Updates operating room ventilation and surface cleaning/disinfection recommendations from the section, Intraoperative Issues: Operating Room Environment.

U.S. Public Health Service, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Prevention of Opportunistic Infections Working Group. USPHS/IDSA guidelines for the prevention of opportunistic infections in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol 2002; 10:3--64. Supplements information regarding patient interaction with pets and animals in the home.

CDC, Infectious Diseases Society of America, American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Guidelines for preventing opportunistic infections among hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Cytotherapy 2001;3:41--54. Supplements and updates the section, Hospital Infection Control.

Key Terms

Airborne infection isolation (AII) refers to the isolation of patients infected with organisms spread via airborne droplet nuclei <5 µm in diameter. This isolation area receives numerous air changes per hour (ACH) (>12 ACH for new construction as of 2001; >6 ACH for construction before 2001), and is under negative pressure, such that the direction of the air flow is from the outside adjacent space (e.g., the corridor) into the room. The air in an AII room is preferably exhausted to the outside, but may be recirculated provided that the return air is filtered through a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. The use of personal respiratory protection is also indicated for persons entering these rooms when caring for TB or smallpox patients and for staff who lack immunity to airborne viral diseases (e.g., measles or varicella zoster virus [VZV] infection).

Protective environment (PE) is a specialized patient-care area, usually in a hospital, with a positive air flow relative to the corridor (i.e., air flows from the room to the outside adjacent space). The combination of HEPA filtration, high numbers of air changes per hour (>12 ACH), and minimal leakage of air into the room creates an environment that can safely accommodate patients who have undergone allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT).

Immunocompromised patients are those patients whose immune mechanisms are deficient because of immunologic disorders (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infection or congenital immune deficiency syndrome), chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, cancer, emphysema, or cardiac failure), or immunosuppressive therapy (e.g., radiation, cytotoxic chemotherapy, anti-rejection medication, or steroids). Immunocompromised patients who are identified as high-risk patients have the greatest risk of infection caused by airborne or waterborne microorganisms. Patients in this subset include persons who are severely neutropenic for prolonged periods of time (i.e., an absolute neutrophil count [ANC] of <500 cells/mL), allogeneic HSCT patients, and those who have received the most intensive chemotherapy (e.g., childhood acute myelogenous leukemia patients).

Abbreviations

AAMI Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation

ACH air changes per hour

AER automated endoscope reprocessor

AHJ authority having jurisdiction

AIA American Institute of Architects

AII airborne infection isolation

ANSI American National Standards Institute

ASHRAE American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers

BMBL Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (CDC/National Institutes of Health)

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

CJD Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

CPL compliance document (OSHA)

DFA direct fluorescence assay

DHHS U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

DOT U.S. Department of Transportation

EC environment of care

EPA U. S. Environmental Protection Agency

FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration

HBV hepatitis B virus

HEPA high efficiency particulate air

HIV human immunodeficiency virus

HSCT hematopoietic stem cell transplant

HVAC heating, ventilation, air conditioning

ICRA infection-control risk assessment

JCAHO Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations

NaOH sodium hydroxide

NTM nontuberculous mycobacteria

OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration

PE protective environment

PPE personal protective equipment

TB tuberculosis

USC United States Code

USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture

UV ultraviolet

UVGI ultraviolet germicidal irradiation

VHF viral hemorrhagic fever

VRE vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus

VRSA vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

VZV varicella zoster virus

Recommendations for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities

As in previous CDC guidelines, each recommendation is categorized on the basis of existing scientific data, theoretic rationale, applicability, and possible economic effect. The recommendations are evidence-based wherever possible. However, certain recommendations are derived from empiric infection-control or engineering principles, theoretic rationale, or from experience gained from events that cannot be readily studied (e.g., floods).

The HICPAC system for categorizing recommendations has been modified to include a category for engineering standards and actions required by state or federal regulations. Guidelines and standards published by the AIA, American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) form the basis of certain recommendations. These standards reflect a consensus of expert opinions and extensive consultation with agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Compliance with these standards is usually voluntary. However, state and federal governments often adopt these standards as regulations. For example, the standards from AIA regarding construction and design of new or renovated health-care facilities, have been adopted by reference by >40 states. Certain recommendations have two category ratings (e.g., Categories IA and IC or Categories IB and IC), indicating the recommendation is evidence-based as well as a standard or regulation.

Rating Categories

Recommendations are rated according to the following categories:

Category IA. Strongly recommended for implementation and strongly supported by well-designed experimental, clinical, or epidemiologic studies.

Category IB. Strongly recommended for implementation and supported by certain experimental, clinical, or epidemiologic studies and a strong theoretic rationale.

Category IC. Required by state or federal regulation, or representing an established association standard. (Note: Abbreviations for governing agencies and regulatory citations are listed where appropriate. Recommendations from regulations adopted at state levels are also noted. Recommendations from AIA guidelines cite the appropriate sections of the standards.)

Category II. Suggested for implementation and supported by suggestive clinical or epidemiologic studies, or a theoretic rationale.

Unresolved issue. No recommendation is offered. No consensus or insufficient evidence exists regarding efficacy.

Recommendations --- Air

1. Use AIA guidelines as minimum standards where state or local regulations are not in place for design and construction of ventilation systems in new or renovated health-care facilities. Ensure that existing structures continue to meet the specifications in effect at the time of construction (1). Category IC (AIA: 1.1.A, 5.4)
2. Monitor ventilation systems in accordance with engineers' and manufacturers' recommendations to ensure preventive engineering, optimal performance for removal of particulates, and elimination of excess moisture (1--8). Category IB, IC (AIA: 7.2, 7.31.D, 8.31.D, 9.31.D, 10.31.D, 11.31.D, Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] guidance)
   
   1. Ensure that heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) filters are properly installed and maintained to prevent air leakages and dust overloads (2,4,6,9). Category IB
   2. Monitor areas with special ventilation requirements (e.g., AII or PE) for ACH, filtration, and pressure differentials (1,7,8,10--26). Category IB, IC (AIA: 7.2.C7, 7.2.D6)
   
       a. Develop and implement a maintenance schedule for ACH, pressure differentials, and filtration efficiencies by using facility-specific data as part of the multidisciplinary risk
           assessment. Take into account the age and reliability of the system.
       b. Document these parameters, especially the pressure differentials.
   
   3. Engineer humidity controls into the HVAC system and monitor the controls to ensure adequate moisture removal (1). Category IC (AIA: 7.31.D9)
   
       a. Locate duct humidifiers upstream from the final filters.
       b. Incorporate a water-removal mechanism into the system.
       c. Locate all duct takeoffs sufficiently downstream from the humidifier so that moisture is completely absorbed.
   
   4. Incorporate steam humidifiers, if possible, to reduce potential for microbial proliferation within the system, and avoid use of cool-mist humidifiers. Category II
   5. Ensure that air intakes and exhaust outlets are located properly in construction of new facilities and renovation of existing facilities (1,27). Category IC (AIA: 7.31.D3, 8.31.D3,
       9.31.D3, 10.31.D3, 11.31.D3)
   
       a. Locate exhaust outlets >25 ft from air-intake systems. 
       b. Locate outdoor air intakes >6 ft above ground or >3 ft above roof level.
       c. Locate exhaust outlets from contaminated areas above roof level to minimize recirculation of exhausted air.
   
   6. Maintain air intakes and inspect filters periodically to ensure proper operation (1,11--16,27). Category IC (AIA: 7.31.D8)
   7. Bag dust-filled filters immediately upon removal to prevent dispersion of dust and fungal spores during transport within the facility (4,28). Category IB
   
       a. Seal or close the bag containing the discarded filter.
       b. Discard spent filters as regular solid waste, regardless of the area from which they were removed (28).
   
   8. Remove bird roosts and nests near air intakes to prevent mites and fungal spores from entering the ventilation system (27,29,30). Category IB
   9. Prevent dust accumulation by cleaning air-duct grilles in accordance with facility-specific procedures and schedules and when rooms are not occupied by patients (1,10--16).
       Category IC, II (AIA: 7.31.D10)
   10. Periodically measure output to monitor system function; clean ventilation ducts as part of routine HVAC maintenance to ensure optimum performance (1,31,32). Category IC, II
         (AIA: 7.31.D10)
    
3. Use portable, industrial-grade HEPA filter units capable of filtration rates in the range of 300--800 ft³/min to augment removal of respirable particles as needed (33). Category II
   
   1. Select portable HEPA filters that can recirculate all or nearly all of the room air and provide the equivalent of >12 ACH (34). Category II
   2. Portable HEPA filter units placed in construction zones can be used later in patient-care areas, provided all internal and external surfaces are cleaned, and the filter replaced or its
       performance verified by appropriate particle testing. Category II
   3. Situate portable HEPA units with the advice of facility engineers to ensure that all room air is filtered (34). Category II
   4. Ensure that fresh-air requirements for the area are met (33,35). Category II
    
4. Follow appropriate procedures for use of areas with through-the-wall ventilation units (1). Category IC (AIA: 8.31.D1, 8.31.D8, 9.31.D23, 10.31.D18, 11.31.D15)
   
   1. Do not use such areas as PE rooms (1). Category IC (AIA: 7.2.D3)
   2. Do not use a room with a through-the-wall ventilation unit as an AII room unless it can be demonstrated that all required AII engineering controls are met (1,34). Category IC (AIA:
       7.2.C3)
    
5. Conduct an infection-control risk assessment (ICRA) and provide an adequate number of AII and PE rooms (if required) or other areas to meet the needs of the patient population (1,2,7,8,17,19, 20,34,36--43). Category IA, IC (AIA: 7.2.C, 7.2.D)
6. When ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is used as a supplemental engineering control, install fixtures 1) on the wall near the ceiling or suspended from the ceiling as an upper air unit; 2) in the air-return duct of an AII area; or 3) in designated enclosed areas or booths for sputum induction (34). Category II
7. Seal windows in buildings with centralized HVAC systems, including PE areas (1,3,44). Category IB, IC (AIA: 7.2.D3)
8. Keep emergency doors and exits from PE rooms closed except during an emergency; equip emergency doors and exits with alarms. Category II
9. Develop a contingency plan for backup capacity in the event of a general power failure (45). Category IC (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations [JCAHO]: Environment of Care [EC] 1.4)
   
   1. Emphasize restoration of appropriate air quality and ventilation conditions in AII rooms, PE rooms, operating rooms, emergency departments, and intensive care units (1,45).   
       Category IC (AIA: 1.5.A1; JCAHO: EC 1.4)
   2. Deploy infection-control procedures to protect occupants until power and systems functions are restored (1,36,45). Category IC (AIA: 5.1, 5.2; JCAHO: EC 1.4)
    
10. Do not shut down HVAC systems in patient-care areas exept for maintenance, repair, testing of emergency backup capacity, or new construction (1,46). Category IB, IC (AIA: 5.1, 5.2.B, C)
    
    1. Coordinate HVAC system maintenance with infection-control staff and relocate immunocompromised patients if necessary (1). Category IC (AIA: 5.1, 5.2)
    2. Provide backup emergency power and air-handling and pressurization systems to maintain filtration, constant ACH, and pressure differentials in PE rooms, AII rooms, operating
        rooms, and other critical-care areas (1,37,47). Category IC (AIA: 5.1, 5.2)
    3. For areas not served by installed emergency ventilation and backup systems, use portable units and monitor ventilation parameters and patients in those areas (33). Category II
    4. Coordinate system startups with infection-control staff to protect patients in PE rooms from bursts of fungal spores (1,3,37,47). Category IC (AIA: 5.1, 5.2)
    5. Allow sufficient time for ACH to clean the air once the system is operational (Table 1) (1,33). Category IC (AIA: 5.1, 5.2)
     
11. HVAC systems serving offices and administrative areas may be shut down for energy conservation purposes, but the shutdown must not alter or adversely affect pressure differentials maintained in laboratories or critical-care areas with specific ventilation requirements (i.e., PE rooms, AII rooms, operating rooms). Category II
12. Whenever possible, avoid inactivating or shutting down the entire HVAC system, especially in acute-care facilities. Category II
13. Whenever feasible, design and install fixed backup ventilation systems for new or renovated construction of PE rooms, AII rooms, operating rooms, and other critical-care areas identified by ICRA (1). Category IC (AIA: 1.5.A1)

II. Construction, Renovation, Remediation, Repair, and Demolition

1. Establish a multidisciplinary team that includes infection-control staff to coordinate demolition, construction, and renovation projects and consider proactive preventive measures at the inception; produce and maintain summary statements of the team's activities (1,9,11--16,38,48--51). Category IB, IC (AIA: 5.1)
2. Educate both the construction team and health-care staff in immunocompromised patient-care areas regarding the airborne infection risks associated with construction projects, dispersal of fungal spores during such activities, and methods to control the dissemination of fungal spores (11--16,27,50,52--56). Category IB
3. Incorporate mandatory adherence agreements for infection control into construction contracts, with penalties for noncompliance and mechanisms to ensure timely correction of problems (1,11,13--16,27,50). Category IC (AIA: 5.1)
4. Establish and maintain surveillance for airborne environmental disease (e.g., aspergillosis) as appropriate during construction, renovation, repair, and demolition activities to ensure the health and safety of immunocompromised patients (27,57--59). Category IB
   
   1. Using active surveillance, monitor for airborne infections in immunocompromised patients (27,37,57,58). Category IB
   2. Periodically review the facility's microbiologic, histopathologic, and postmortem data to identify additional cases (27,37,57,58). Category IB
   3. If cases of aspergillosis or other health-care--associated airborne fungal infections occur, aggressively pursue the diagnosis with tissue biopsies and cultures as feasible (11,13--
       16,27,50,57--59). Category IB
    
5. Implement infection-control measures relevant to construction, renovation, maintenance, demolition, and repair (1,16,49,50,60). Category IB, IC (AIA: 5.1, 5.2)
   
   1. Before the project gets under way, perform an ICRA to define the scope of the activity and the need for barrier measures (1,11,13--16,48--51,60). Category IB, IC (AIA: 5.1)
   
       a. Determine if immunocompromised patients may be at risk for exposure to fungal spores from dust generated during the project (13--16,48,51).
       b. Develop a contingency plan to prevent such exposures (13--16,48,51).
   
   2. Implement infection-control measures for external demolition and construction activities (11,13--16,50,61,62). Category IB
   
       a. Determine if the facility can operate temporarily on recirculated air; if feasible, seal off adjacent air intakes.
       b. If this is not possible or practical, check the low-efficiency (roughing) filter banks frequently and replace as needed to avoid buildup of particulates.
       c. Seal windows and reduce wherever possible other sources of outside air intrusion (e.g., open doors in stairwells and corridors), especially in PE areas.
   
   3. Avoid damaging the underground water system (i.e., buried pipes) to prevent soil and dust contamination of the water (1,63). Category IB, IC (AIA: 5.1)
   4. Implement infection-control measures for internal construction activities (1,11,13--16,48-- 50,64). Category IB, IC (AIA: 5.1, 5.2)
   
       a. Construct barriers to prevent dust from construction areas from entering patient-care areas; ensure that barriers are impermeable to fungal spores and in compliance with local fire
           codes (1,45,48,49,55,64--66).
       b. Seal off and block return air vents if rigid barriers are used for containment (1,16,50).
       c. Implement dust-control measures on surfaces and divert pedestrian traffic away from work zones (1,48,49,64).
       d. Relocate patients whose rooms are adjacent to work zones, depending on their immune status, the scope of the project, the potential for generation of dust or water aerosols, and
           the methods used to control these aerosols (1,64,65).
    
   5. Perform those engineering and work-site related infection-control measures as needed for internal construction, repairs, and renovations (1,48,49,51,64,66). Category IB, IC (AIA:
       5.1, 5.2)
   
       a. Ensure proper operation of the air-handling system in the affected area after erection of barriers and before the room or area is set to negative pressure (39,47,50,64). Category
           IB
       b. Create and maintain negative air pressure in work zones adjacent to patient-care areas and ensure that required engineering controls are maintained (1,48,49,51,64,66).
       c. Monitor negative airflow inside rigid barriers (1,67).
       d. Monitor barriers and ensure integrity of the construction barriers; repair gaps or breaks in barrier joints (1,65,66,68).
       e. Seal windows in work zones if practical; use window chutes for disposal of large pieces of debris as needed, but ensure that the negative pressure differential for the area is
           maintained (1,13,48).
       f. Direct pedestrian traffic from construction zones away from patient-care areas to minimize dispersion of dust (1,13--16,44,48--51,64).
       g. Provide construction crews with 1) designated entrances, corridors, and elevators wherever practical; 2) essential services (e.g., toilet facilities) and convenience services (e.g.,
           vending machines); 3) protective clothing (e.g., coveralls, footgear, and headgear) for travel to patient-care areas; and 4) a space or anteroom for changing clothing and storing
           equipment (1,11,13--16,50).
       h. Clean work zones and their entrances daily by 1) wet-wiping tools and tool carts before their removal from the work zone; 2) placing mats with tacky surfaces inside the entrance;
           and 3) covering debris and securing this covering before removing debris from the work zone (1,11,13--16,50).
       i. In patient-care areas, for major repairs that include removal of ceiling tiles and disruption of the space above the false ceiling, use plastic sheets or prefabricated plastic units to
          contain dust; use a negative pressure system within this enclosure to remove dust; and either pass air through an industrial-grade, portable HEPA filter capable of filtration rates of
          300--800 ft³/min., or exhaust air directly to the outside (16,50,64,67,69).
       j. Upon completion of the project, clean the work zone according to facility procedures, and install barrier curtains to contain dust and debris before removing rigid barriers (1,11,13-
          -16,48--50).
       k. Flush the water system to clear sediment from pipes to minimize waterborne microorganism proliferation (1,63).
       l. Restore appropriate ACH, humidity, and pressure differential; clean or replace air filters; dispose of spent filters (3,4,28,47).
    
6. Use airborne-particle sampling as a tool to evaluate barrier integrity (3,70). Category II
7. Commission the HVAC system for newly constructed health-care facilities and renovated spaces before occupancy and use, with emphasis on ensuring proper ventilation for operating rooms, AII rooms, and PE areas (1,70--72). Category IC (AIA: 5.1; ASHRAE: 1-1996)
8. No recommendation is offered regarding routine microbiologic air sampling before, during, or after construction, or before or during occupancy of areas housing immunocompromised patients (9,48,49,51,64,73,74). Unresolved issue
9. If a case of health-care--acquired aspergillosis or other opportunistic environmental airborne fungal disease occurs during or immediately after construction, implement appropriate follow-up measures (40,48,75--78). Category IB
   
   1. Review pressure-differential monitoring documentation to verify that pressure differentials in the construction zone and in PE rooms are appropriate for their settings (1,40,78).
       Category IB, IC (AIA: 5.1)
   2. Implement corrective engineering measures to restore proper pressure differentials as needed (1,40,78). Category IB, IC (AIA: 5.1)
   3. Conduct a prospective search for additional cases and intensify retrospective epidemiologic review of the hospital's medical and laboratory records (27,48,76,79,80). Category IB
   4. If no epidemiologic evidence of ongoing transmission exists, continue routine maintenance in the area to prevent health-care--acquired fungal disease (27,75). Category IB
    
10. If no epidemiologic evidence exists of ongoing transmission of fungal disease, conduct an environmental assessment to find and eliminate the source (11,13--16,27,44,49--51,60,81). Category IB
    
    1. Collect environmental samples from potential sources of airborne fungal spores, preferably by using a high-volume air sampler rather than settle plates (2,4,11,13--
        16,27,44,49,50,64,65,81--86). Category IB
    2. If either an environmental source of airborne fungi or an engineering problem with filtration or pressure differentials is identified, promptly perform corrective measures to eliminate the
        source and route of entry (49,60). Category IB
    3. Use an EPA-registered antifungal biocide (e.g., copper-8-quinolinolate) for decontaminating structural materials (16,61,66,87). Category IB
    4. If an environmental source of airborne fungi is not identified, review infection-control measures, including engineering controls, to identify potential areas for correction or improvement
        (88,89). Category IB
    5. If possible, perform molecular subtyping of Aspergillus spp. isolated from patients and the environment to compare their strain identities (90--94). Category II
     
11. If air-supply systems to high-risk areas (e.g., PE rooms) are not optimal, use portable, industrial-grade HEPA filters on a temporary basis until rooms with optimal air-handling systems become available (1,13--16,27,50). Category II

1. Minimize exposures of severely immunocompromised patients (e.g., solid-organ transplant patients or allogeneic neutropenic patients) to activities that might cause aerosolization of fungal spores (e.g., vacuuming or disruption of ceiling tiles) (37,48,51,73). Category IB
2. Minimize the length of time that immunocompromised patients in PE are outside their rooms for diagnostic procedures and other activities (37,62). Category IB
3. Provide respiratory protection for severely immunocompromised patients when they must leave PE for diagnostic procedures and other activities; consult the most recent revision of CDC's Guideline for Prevention of Health-Care--Associated Pneumonia for information regarding the appropriate type of respiratory protection. (27,37). Category II
4. Incorporate ventilation engineering specifications and dust-controlling processes into the planning and construction of new PE units (Figure 1). Category IB, IC
   
   1. Install central or point-of-use HEPA filters for supply (incoming) air (1,2,27,48,56,70, 80,82,85,95--102). Category IB, IC (AIA: 5.1, 5.2, 7.2.D)
   2. Ensure that rooms are well-sealed by 1) properly constructing windows, doors, and intake and exhaust ports; 2) maintaining ceilings that are smooth and free of fissures, open joints,
       and crevices; 3) sealing walls above and below the ceiling; and 4) monitoring for leakage and making any necessary repairs (1,27,44,100,101). Category IB, IC (AIA: 7.2.D3)
   3. Ventilate the room to maintain >12 ACH (1,27,37,100,101,103). Category IC (AIA: 7.2.D)
   4. Locate air supply and exhaust grilles so that clean, filtered air enters from one side of the room, flows across the patient's bed, and exits from the opposite side of the room
       (1,27,100,101). Category IC (AIA: 7.31.D1)
   5. Maintain positive room air pressure (>2.5 Pa [0.01-inch water gauge]) in relation to the corridor (1,3,27,100,101). Category IB, IC (AIA: Table 7.2)
   6. Maintain airflow patterns and monitor these on a daily basis by using permanently installed visual means of detecting airflow in new or renovated construction, or by using other visual
       methods (e.g., flutter strips or smoke tubes) in existing PE units. Document the monitoring results (1,13). Category IC (AIA: 7.2.D6)
   7. Install self-closing devices on all room exit doors in PE rooms (1). Category IC (AIA: 7.2.D4)
    
5. Do not use laminar air flow systems in newly constructed PE rooms (99,101). Category II
6. Take measures to protect immunocompromised patients who would benefit from a PE room and who also have an airborne infectious disease (e.g., acute VZV infection or tuberculosis).
   
   1. Ensure that the patient's room is designed to maintain positive pressure.
   2. Use an anteroom to ensure appropriate air-balance relationships and provide independent exhaust of contaminated air to the outside, or place a HEPA filter in the exhaust duct if the
       return air must be recirculated (1,100) (Figure 2). Category IC (AIA: 7.2.D1, A7.2.D)
   3. If an anteroom is not available, place the patient in AII and use portable, industrial-grade HEPA filters to enhance filtration of spores in the room (33). Category II
    
7. Maintain backup ventilation equipment (e.g., portable units for fans or filters) for emergency provision of required ventilation for PE areas and take immediate steps to restore the fixed ventilation system (1,37,47). Category IC (AIA: 5.1)

1. Incorporate certain specifications into the planning and construction or renovation of AII units (1,34,100,101,104) (Figure 3). Category IB, IC
   
   1. Maintain continuous negative air pressure (2.5 Pa [0.01 inch water gauge]) in relation to the air pressure in the corridor; monitor air pressure periodically, preferably daily, with
       audible manometers or smoke tubes at the door (for existing AII rooms), or with a permanently installed visual monitoring mechanism. Document the results of monitoring
       (1,100,101). Category IC (AIA: 7.2.C7, Table 7.2)
   2. Ensure that rooms are well-sealed by properly constructing windows, doors, and air-intake and exhaust ports; when monitoring indicates air leakage, locate the leak and make
       necessary repairs (1,99,100). Category IB, IC (AIA: 7.2.C3)
   3. Install self-closing devices on all AII room exit doors (1). Category IC (AIA: 7.2.C4)
   4. Provide ventilation to ensure >12 ACH for renovated rooms and new rooms, and >6 ACH for existing AII rooms (1,34,104). Category IB, IC (AIA: Table 7.2)
   5. Direct exhaust air to the outside, away from air-intake and populated areas. If this is not practical, air from the room can be recirculated after passing through a HEPA filter (1,34).
       Category IC (AIA: Table 7.2)
    
2. Where supplemental engineering controls for air cleaning are indicated from a risk assessment of the AII area, install UVGI units in the exhaust air ducts of the HVAC system to supplement HEPA filtration or install UVGI fixtures on or near the ceiling to irradiate upper room air (34). Category II
3. Implement environmental infection-control measures for persons with diagnosed or suspected airborne infectious diseases.
   
   1. Use AII rooms for patients with or suspected of having an airborne infection who also require cough-inducing procedures, or use an enclosed booth that is engineered to provide 1)
        >12 ACH; 2) air supply and exhaust rate sufficient to maintain a 2.5 Pa (0.01-inch water gauge) negative pressure difference with respect to all surrounding spaces with an exhaust 
       rate of >50 ft³/min; and 3) air exhausted directly outside away from air intakes and traffic or exhausted after HEPA filtration before recirculation (1,34,105--107). Category IB, IC
       (AIA: 7.15.E, 7.31.D23, 9.10, Table 7.2)
   2. Although airborne spread of viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) has not been documented in a health-care setting, prudence dictates placing a VHF patient in an AII room, preferably  
       with an anteroom, to reduce the risk of occupational exposure to aerosolized infectious material in blood, vomitus, liquid stool, and respiratory secretions present in large amounts 
       during the end stage of a patient's illness (108--110). Category II
   
       a. If an anteroom is not available, use portable, industrial-grade HEPA filters in the patient's room to provide additional ACH equivalents for removing airborne particulates.
       b. Ensure that health-care workers wear face shields or goggles with appropriate respirators when entering the rooms of VHF patients with prominent cough, vomiting, diarrhea, or
           hemorrhage (109).
   
   3. Place smallpox patients in negative pressure rooms at the onset of their illness, preferably using a room with an anteroom, if available (36). Category II
    
4. No recommendation is offered regarding negative pressure or isolation for patients with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (111--113). Unresolved issue.
5. Maintain backup ventilation equipment (e.g., portable units for fans or filters) for emergency provision of ventilation requirements for AII rooms, and take immediate steps to restore the fixed ventilation system (1,34,47). Category IC (AIA: 5.1)

1. Implement environmental infection-control and ventilation measures for operating rooms.
   
   1. Maintain positive-pressure ventilation with respect to corridors and adjacent areas (1,114,115). Category IB, IC (AIA: Table 7.2)
   2. Maintain >15 ACH, of which >3 ACH should be fresh air (1,116,117). Category IC (AIA: Table 7.2)
   3. Filter all recirculated and fresh air through the appropriate filters, providing 90% efficiency (dust-spot testing) at a minimum (1,118). Category IC (AIA: Table 7.3)
   4. In rooms not engineered for horizontal laminar airflow, introduce air at the ceiling and exhaust air near the floor (1,115,119). Category IC (AIA: 7.31.D4)
   5. Do not use ultraviolet (UV) lights to prevent surgical-site infections (115,120--126). Category IB
   6. Keep operating room doors closed except for the passage of equipment, personnel, and patients, and limit entry to essential personnel (127,128). Category IB
    
2. Follow precautionary procedures for infectious TB patients who also require emergency surgery (34,129,130). Category IB, IC
   
   1. Use an N95 respirator approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health without exhalation valves in the operating room (129,131). Category IC (Occupational
       Safety and Health Administration [OSHA]; 29 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 1910.134,139)
   2. Intubate the patient in either the AII room or the operating room; if intubating the patient in the operating room, do not allow the doors to open until 99% of the airborne contaminants
       are removed (Table 1) (34,117). Category IB
   3. When anesthetizing a patient with confirmed or suspected TB, place a bacterial filter between the anesthesia circuit and patient's airway to prevent contamination of anesthesia
       equipment or discharge of tubercle bacilli into the ambient air (130,132). Category IB
   4. Extubate and allow the patient to recover in an AII room (34,117). Category IB
   5. If the patient has to be extubated in the operating room, allow adequate time for ACH to clean 99% of airborne particles from the air (Table 1), because extubation is a cough-
       producing procedure (34,117). Category IB
    
3. Use portable, industrial-grade HEPA filters temporarily for supplemental air cleaning during intubation and extubation for TB patients who require surgery (33,34,117). Category II
   
   1. Position the units appropriately so that all room air passes through the filter; obtain engineering consultation to determine the appropriate placements (34). Category II
   2. Switch the portable unit off during the surgical procedure. Category II
   3. Provide fresh air as per ventilation standards for operating rooms; portable units do not meet the requirements for the number of fresh ACH (1,33,133). Category II
    
4. If possible, schedule TB patients as the last surgical cases of the day to maximize the time available for removal of airborne contamination. Category II
5. No recommendation is offered for performing orthopedic implant operations in rooms supplied with laminar airflow (118,120). Unresolved issue
6. Maintain backup ventilation equipment (e.g., portable units for fans or filters) for emergency ventilation of operating rooms, and take immediate steps to restore the fixed ventilation system (1,47,131,134). Category IB, IC (AIA: 5.1)

1. In settings where surgical lasers are used, wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including N95 or N100 respirators, to minimize exposure to laser plumes (129,135,136). Category IC (OSHA; 29 CFR 1910.134,139)
2. Use central wall suction units with in-line filters to evacuate minimal laser plumes (135--138). Category II
3. Use a mechanical smoke evacuation system with a high-efficiency filter to manage the generation of large amounts of laser plume, when ablating tissue infected with human papilloma virus (HPV) or performing procedures on a patient with extrapulmonary TB (34,136,137,139--141). Category II

1. Practice hand hygiene to prevent the hand transfer of waterborne pathogens, and use barrier precautions (e.g., gloves) as defined by other guidelines (36,142--146). Category IA
2. Eliminate contaminated water or fluid environmental reservoirs (e.g., in equipment or solutions) wherever possible (142,147). Category IB
3. Clean and disinfect sinks and wash basins on a regular basis by using an EPA-registered product as set by facility policies. Category II
4. Evaluate for possible environmental sources (e.g., potable water) of specimen contamination when waterborne microorganisms (e.g., NTM) of unlikely clinical importance are isolated from clinical cultures (e.g., specimens collected aseptically from sterile sites or, if postprocedural, colonization after use of tap water in patient care) (148--151). Category IB
5. Avoid placing decorative fountains and fish tanks in patient-care areas; ensure disinfection and fountain maintenance if decorative fountains are used in public areas of the health-care facility (152). Category IB

1. Maintain hot water temperature at the return at the highest temperature allowable by state regulations or codes, preferably >124^ºF (>51^ºC), and maintain cold water temperature at <68^ºF (<20^ºC) (27,153). Category IC (States; ASHRAE: 12:2000)
2. If the hot water temperature can be maintained at >124^ºF (>51^ºC), explore engineering options (e.g., installing preset thermostatic valves in point-of-use fixtures) to help minimize the risk of scalding (153). Category II
3. When state regulations or codes do not allow hot water temperatures above the range of 105^ºF--120^ºF (40.6^ºC--49^ºC) for hospitals or 95^ºF--110^ºF (35^ºC--43.3^ºC) for nursing care facilities or when buildings cannot be retrofitted for thermostatic mixing valves, follow either of these alternative preventive measures to minimize the growth of Legionella spp. in water systems. Category II
   
   1. Periodically increase the hot water temperature to >150^ºF (>66^ºC) at the point of use (153). Category II
   2. Alternatively, chlorinate the water and then flush it through the system (153--155). Category II
    
4. Maintain constant recirculation in hot-water distribution systems serving patient-care areas (1). Category IC (AIA: 7.31.E.3)

1. Whenever possible, disconnect the ice machine before planned water disruptions. Category II
2. Prepare a contingency plan to estimate water demands for the entire facility in advance of significant water disruptions (i.e., those expected to result in extensive and heavy microbial or chemical contamination of the potable water), sewage intrusion, or flooding (45,156). Category IC (JCAHO: EC 1.4)
3. When a significant water disruption or an emergency occurs, adhere to any advisory to boil water issued by the municipal water utility (157). Category IB, IC (Municipal order)
   
   1. Alert patients, families, staff, and visitors not to consume water from drinking fountains, ice, or drinks made from municipal tap water, while the advisory is in effect, unless the water
       has been disinfected (e.g., by bringing to a rolling boil for >1 minute) (157). Category IB, IC (Municipal order)
   2. After the advisory is lifted, run faucets and drinking fountains at full flow for >5minutes, or use high-temperature water flushing or chlorination (153,157). Category IC, II (Municipal
       order; ASHRAE: 12:2000)
    
4. Maintain a high level of surveillance for waterborne disease among patients after a boil water advisory is lifted. Category II
5. Corrective decontamination of the hot water system might be necessary after a disruption in service or a cross-connection with sewer lines has occurred.
   
   1. Decontaminate the system when the fewest occupants are present in the building (e.g., nights or weekends) (27,153). Category IC (ASHRAE: 12:2000)
   2. If using high-temperature decontamination, raise the hot-water temperature to 160^ºF--170^ºF (71^ºC--77^ºC) and maintain that level while progressively flushing each outlet around the
       system for >5 minutes (27,153). Category IC (ASHRAE: 12:2000)
   3. If using chlorination, add enough chlorine, preferably overnight, to achieve a free chlorine residual of >2 mg/L (>2 ppm) throughout the system (153). Category IC (ASHRAE:
       12:2000)
    
       a. Flush each outlet until chlorine odor is detected.
       b. Maintain the elevated chlorine concentration in the system for >2 (but <24 hrs).
   
   4. Use a thorough flushing of the water system instead of chlorination if a highly chlorine-resistant microorganism (e.g., Cryptosporidium spp.) is suspected as the water contaminant.
       Category II
    
6. Flush and restart equipment and fixtures according to manufacturer's instructions. Category II
7. Change the pretreatment filter and disinfect the dialysis water system with an EPA-registered product to prevent colonization of the reverse osmosis membrane and downstream microbial contamination (158). Category II
8. Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle to restore their capacity and function. Category II
9. If the facility has a water-holding reservoir or water-storage tank, consult the facility engineer or local health department to determine whether this equipment needs to be drained, disinfected with an EPA-registered product, and refilled. Category II
10. Implement facility procedures to manage a sewage system failure or flooding (e.g., arranging with other health-care facilities for temporary transfer of patients or provision of services), and establish communications with the local municipal water utility and the local health department to ensure that advisories are received in a timely manner after release (45,156). Category IC (JCAHO: EC 1.4; Municipal order)
11. Implement infection-control measures during sewage intrusion, flooding, or other water-related emergencies.
    
    1. Relocate patients and clean or sterilize supplies from affected areas. Category II
    2. If hands are not visibly soiled or contaminated with proteinaceous material, include an alcohol-based hand rub in the hand hygiene process 1) before performing invasive procedures;
        2) before and after each patient contact; and 3) whenever hand hygiene is indicated (146). Category II
    3. If hands are visibly soiled or contaminated with proteinaceous material, use soap and bottled water for handwashing (146). Category II
    4. If the potable water system is not affected by flooding or sewage contamination, process surgical instruments for sterilization according to standard procedures. Category II
    5. Contact the manufacturer of the automated endoscope reprocessor (AER) for specific instructions on the use of this equipment during a water advisory. Category II
     
12. Remediate the facility after sewage intrusion, flooding, or other water-related emergencies.
    
    1. Close off affected areas during cleanup procedures. Category II
    2. Ensure that the sewage system is fully functional before beginning remediation so contaminated solids and standing water can be removed. Category II
    3. If hard-surfaced equipment, floors, and walls remain in good repair, ensure that these are dry within 72 hours; clean with detergent according to standard cleaning procedures.
        Category II
    4. Clean wood furniture and materials (if still in good repair); allow them to dry thoroughly before restoring varnish or other surface coatings. Category II
    5. Contain dust and debris during remediation and repair as outlined in air recommendations (Air: IIG 4, 5). Category II
     
13. Regardless of the original source of water damage (e.g., flooding versus water leaks from point-of-use fixtures or roofs), remove wet, absorbent structural items (e.g., carpeting, wallboard, and wallpaper) and cloth furnishings if they cannot be easily and thoroughly cleaned and dried within 72 hours (e.g., moisture content <20% as determined by moisture meter readings); replace with new materials as soon as the underlying structure is declared by the facility engineer to be thoroughly dry (2,47,159,160). Category IB

1. When using a pulse or one-time decontamination method, superheat the water by flushing each outlet for >5 minutes with water at 160^ºF--170^ºF (71^ºC--77^ºC) or hyperchlorinate the system by flushing all outlets for >5 minutes with water containing >2 mg/L (>2 ppm) free residual chlorine using a chlorine-based product registered by the EPA for water treatment (e.g., sodium hypochlorite [chlorine bleach]) (153,155,161--164). Category IB
2. After a pulse treatment, maintain both the heated water temperature at the return and the cold water temperature per the recommendation (Water: II A) wherever practical and permitted by state codes, or chlorinate heated water to achieve 1--2 mg/L (1--2 ppm) free residual chlorine at the tap by using a chlorine-based product registered by the EPA for water treatment (e.g., sodium hypochlorite [bleach]) (153,165--169). Category IC (States; ASHRAE: 12:2000)
3. Explore engineering or educational options (e.g., install preset thermostatic mixing valves in point-of-use fixtures or post warning signs at each outlet) to minimize the risk of scalding for patients, visitors, and staff. Category II
4. No recommendation is offered for treating water in the facility's distribution system with chlorine dioxide, heavy-metal ions (e.g., copper or silver), monochloramines, ozone, or UV light (170--188). Unresolved issue

1. Conduct an infection-control risk assessment of the facility to determine if patients at risk or severely immunocompromised patients are present (27,189,190). Category IB
2. Implement general strategies for detecting and preventing Legionnaires disease in facilities that do not provide care for severely immunocompromised patients (i.e., facilities that do not have HSCT or solid-organ transplant programs) (see Appendix) (27,189,190). Category IB
   
   1. Establish a surveillance process to detect health-care--associated Legionnaires disease (27,189,190). Category IB
   2. Inform health-care personnel (e.g., infection control, physicians, patient-care staff, engineering) regarding the potential for Legionnaires disease to occur and measures to prevent and
       control health-care--associated legionellosis (166,191). Category IB
   3. Establish mechanisms to provide clinicians with laboratory tests (e.g., culture, urine antigen, direct fluorescence assay [DFA], and serology) for the diagnosis of Legionnaires disease
       (27,189). Category IB
    
3. Maintain a high index of suspicion for health-care--associated Legionnaires disease, and perform laboratory diagnostic tests for legionellosis on suspected cases, especially in patients at risk who do not require a PE for care (e.g., patients receiving systemic steroids; patients aged >65 years; or patients with chronic underlying disease (e.g., diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, or chronic obstructive lung disease) (27,166,190,192--198). Category IA
4. Periodically review the availability and clinicians' use of laboratory diagnostic tests for Legionnaires disease in the facility; if clinicians' use of the tests on patients with diagnosed or suspected pneumonia is limited, implement measures (e.g., an educational campaign) to enhance clinicians' use of the test(s) (193). Category IB
5. If one case of laboratory-confirmed, health-care--associated Legionnaires disease is identified, or if two or more cases of laboratory-suspected, health-care-associated Legionnaires disease occur during a 6-month period, certain activities should be initiated (181,189,191,193,199,200). Category IB
   
   1. Report the cases to state and local health departments where required. Category IC (States)
   2. If the facility does not treat severely immunocompromised patients, conduct an epidemiologic investigation, including retrospective review of microbiologic, serologic, and postmortem
       data to look for previously unidentified cases of health-care--associated Legionnaires disease, and begin intensive prospective surveillance for additional cases
       (27,181,189,191,193,199,200). Category IB
   3. If no evidence of continued health-care--associated transmission exists, continue intensive prospective surveillance for >2 months after the initiation of surveillance (27,181,
       189,191,193,199,200). Category IB
    
6. If there is evidence of continued health-care--associated transmission (i.e., an outbreak), conduct an environmental assessment to determine the source of Legionella spp. (199--207). Category IB
   
   1. Collect water samples from potential aerosolized water sources (Box 1 and Box 2) (208). Category IB
   2. Save and subtype isolates of Legionella spp. obtained from patients and the environment (163,199--207,209). Category IB
   3. If a source is identified, promptly institute water system decontamination measures per recommendations (see Water IV) (164,210). Category IB
   4. If Legionella spp. are detected in >1 culture (e.g., conducted at 2-week intervals during 3 months), reassess the control measures, modify them accordingly, and repeat the
       decontamination procedures; consider intensive use of techniques used in the initial decontamination, or a combination of superheating and hyperchlorination (27,210,211). Category
       IB
    
7. If an environmental source is not identified during a Legionnaires disease outbreak, continue surveillance for new cases for >2 months. Either defer decontamination pending identification of the source of Legionella spp. or proceed with decontamination of the hospital's water distribution system, with special attention to areas involved in the outbreak. Category II
8. No recommendation is offered regarding routine culturing of water systems in health-care facilities that do not have patient-care areas (i.e., PE or transplant units) for persons at high risk for Legionella spp. infection (see Appendix) (161,165,167, 198,212--214). Unresolved issue
9. No recommendation is offered regarding the removal of faucet aerators in areas for immunocompetent patients. Unresolved issue
10. Keep adequate records of all infection-control measures and environmental test results for potable water systems. Category II

1. When implementing strategies for preventing Legionnaires disease among severely immunocompromised patients housed in facilities with HSCT or solid-organ transplant programs, incorporate these specific surveillance and epidemiologic measures in addition to the steps outlined previously (see Appendix).
   
   1. Maintain a high index of suspicion for legionellosis in transplant patients even when environmental surveillance cultures do not yield legionellae (189,215). Category IB
   2. If a case occurs in a severely immunocompromised patient, or if severely immunocompromised patients are present in high-risk areas of the hospital (e.g., PE or transplant units) and
       cases are identified elsewhere in the facility, conduct a combined epidemiologic and environmental investigation to determine the source of Legionella spp. (189,210). Category IB
    
2. Implement culture strategies and potable water and fixture treatment measures in addition to those previous outlined (Water: V). Category II
   
   1. Depending on state regulations on potable water temperature in public buildings (216), hospitals housing patients at high risk for health-care--associated legionellosis should either
       maintain heated water with a minimum return temperature of >124^ºF (>51^ºC) and cold water at <68^ºF (<20^ºC), or chlorinate heated water to achieve 1--2 mg/L (1--2 ppm) of free
       residual chlorine at the tap (153--155,165,167--169,217). Category II
   2. Periodic culturing for legionellae in potable water samples from HSCT or solid-organ transplant units can be performed as part of a comprehensive strategy to prevent Legionnaires
       disease in these units (37,154,189,218). Category II
   3. No recommendation is offered regarding the optimal methodology (i.e., frequency or number of sites) for environmental surveillance cultures in HSCT or solid-organ transplant units.
       Unresolved issue
   4. In areas with patients at risk, when Legionella spp. are not detectable in unit water, remove, clean, and disinfect shower heads and tap aerators monthly by using a chlorine-based,
       EPA-registered product. If an EPA-registered chlorine disinfectant is not available, use a chlorine bleach solution (500--615 ppm [1:100 v/v dilution]) (153,187). Category II
    
3. If Legionella spp. are determined to be present in the water of a transplant unit, implement certain measures until Legionella spp. are no longer detected by culture.
   
   1. Decontaminate the water supply as outlined previously (Water: IV) (27,37,153,164,210). Category IB
   2. Do not use water from the faucets in patient-care rooms to avoid creating infectious aerosols (37,219). Category IB
   3. Restrict severely immunocompromised patients from taking showers (37,219). Category IB
   4. Use water that is not contaminated with Legionella spp. for HSCT patients' sponge baths (37,219). Category IB
   5. Provide patients with sterile water for tooth brushing, drinking, and for flushing nasogastric tubing during legionellosis outbreaks (37,219). Category IB
    
4. Do not use large-volume room air humidifiers that create aerosols (e.g., by Venturi principle, ultrasound, or spinning disk) unless they are subjected to high-level disinfection and filled only with sterile water (27,37,201,220). Category IB

1. When planning construction of new health-care facilities, locate cooling towers so that the drift is directed away from the air-intake system, and design the towers to minimize the volume of aerosol drift (153,203,221). Category IC (ASHRAE 12-2000)
2. Implement infection-control procedures for operational cooling towers (153,203,222). Category IC (ASHRAE 12-2000)
   
   1. Install drift eliminators (153,203,222). Category IC (ASHRAE 12-2000)
   2. Use an effective EPA-registered biocide on a regular basis (153). Category IC (ASHRAE 12-2000)
   3. Maintain towers according to manufacturers' recommendations, and keep detailed maintenance and infection-control records, including environmental test results from legionellosis
       outbreak investigations (153). Category IC (ASHRAE 12-2000)
    
3. If cooling towers or evaporative condensers are implicated in health-care--associated legionellosis, decontaminate the cooling-tower system (199,203,221,223). Category IB

1. Adhere to current AAMI standards for quality-assurance performance of devices and equipment used to treat, store, and distribute water in hemodialysis centers (both acute and maintenance [chronic] settings) and for the preparation of concentrates and dialysate (224--235). Category IA, IC (AAMI: American National Standards Institute [ANSI]/AAMI RD5:1992, ANSI/AAMI RD47:1993)
2. No recommendation is offered regarding whether more stringent requirements for water quality should be imposed in hemofiltration and hemodiafiltration. Unresolved issue
3. Conduct microbiologic testing specific to water in dialysis settings (229,230,236--238). Category IA, IC (AAMI: ANSI/AAMI RD5:1992, ANSI/AAMI RD47:1993, RD62:2001)
   
   1. Perform bacteriologic assays of water and dialysis fluids at least once a month and during outbreaks by using standard quantitative methods (236--238). Category IA, IC (AAMI:
       ANSI/AAMI RD62:2001)
   
       a. Assay for heterotrophic, mesophilic bacteria (e.g., Pseudomonas spp).
       b. Do not use nutrient-rich media (e.g., blood agar or chocolate agar).
   
   2. In conjunction with microbiologic testing, perform endotoxin testing on product water used to reprocess dialyzers for multiple use (229,230,239--242). Category IA, IC (AAMI:
       ANSI/AAMI RD5:1992, ANSI/AAMI RD47:1993)
   3. Ensure that water does not exceed the limits for microbial counts and endotoxin concentrations (Table 2) (229--231). Category IA, IC (AAMI: ANSI/AAMI RD5:1992,
       ANSI/AAMI RD47:1993)
    
4. Disinfect water distribution systems in dialysis settings at least weekly (226--228,231,236). Category IA, IC (AAMI: ANSI/AAMI RD62:2001)
5. Wherever practical, design and engineer water systems in dialysis settings to avoid incorporating joints, dead-end pipes, and unused branches and taps that can harbor bacteria (226-- 228,231,236). Category IA, IC (AAMI: ANSI/AAMI RD62:2001)
6. When storage tanks are used in dialysis systems, they should be routinely drained, disinfected with an EPA-registered product, and fitted with an ultrafilter or pyrogenic filter (membrane filter with a pore size sufficient to remove particles and molecules >1 kilodalton) installed in the water line distal to the storage tank (236). Category IC (AAMI: ANSI/AAMI RD62:2001)

1. Do not handle ice directly by hand, and wash hands before obtaining ice. Category II
2. Use a smooth-surface ice scoop to dispense ice (243,244). Category II
   
   1. Keep the ice scoop on a chain short enough that the scoop cannot touch the floor or keep the scoop on a clean, hard surface when not in use (243,244). Category II
   2. Do not store the ice scoop in the ice bin. Category II
    
3. Do not store pharmaceuticals or medical solutions on ice intended for consumption; use sterile ice to keep medical solutions cold, or use equipment specifically manufactured for this purpose (244,245). Category IB
4. Machines that dispense ice are preferred to those that require ice to be removed from bins or chests with a scoop (246,247). Category II
5. Limit access to ice-storage chests, and keep container doors closed except when removing ice (244). Category II
6. Clean, disinfect, and maintain ice-storage chests on a regular basis. Category II
   
   1. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning. Category II
   2. Use an EPA-registered disinfectant suitable for use on ice machines, dispensers, or storage chests in accordance with label instructions. Category II
   3. If instructions and EPA-registered disinfectants suitable for use on ice machines are not available, use a general cleaning/disinfecting regimen (Box 3) (244). Category II
   4. Flush and clean ice machines and dispensers if they have not been disconnected before anticipated lengthy water disruptions. Category II
    
7. Install proper air gaps where the condensate lines meet the waste lines. Category II.
8. Conduct microbiologic sampling of ice, ice chests, and ice-making machines and dispensers where indicated during an epidemiologic investigation (244,248,249). Category IB

1. Drain and clean hydrotherapy equipment (e.g., Hubbard tanks, tubs, whirlpools, whirlpool spas, or birthing tanks) after each patient's use, and disinfect equipment surfaces and components by using an EPA-registered product in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Category II
2. In the absence of an EPA-registered product for water treatment, add sodium hypochlorite to the water:
   
   1. Maintain a 15-ppm chlorine residual in the water of small hydrotherapy tanks, Hubbard tanks, and tubs (250). Category II
   2. Maintain a 2--5-ppm chlorine residual in the water of whirlpools and whirlpool spas (251). Category II
   3. If the pH of the municipal water is in the basic range (e.g., when chloramine is used as the primary drinking water disinfectant in the community), consult the facility engineer regarding
       the possible need to adjust the pH of the water to a more acidic level before disinfection, to enhance the biocidal activity of the chlorine (252). Category II
    
3. Clean and disinfect hydrotherapy equipment after using tub liners. Category II
4. Clean and disinfect inflatable tubs unless they are single-use equipment. Category II
5. No recommendation is offered regarding the use of antiseptic chemicals (e.g., chloramine-T) in the water during hydrotherapy sessions. Unresolved issue
6. Conduct a risk assessment of patients before their use of large hydrotherapy pools, deferring patients with draining wounds or fecal incontinence from pool use until their condition resolves. Category II
7. For large hydrotherapy pools, use pH and chlorine residual levels appropriate for an indoor pool as provided by local and state health agencies. Category IC (States)
8. No recommendation is offered regarding the use in health-care settings of whirlpool or spa equipment manufactured for home or recreational use. Unresolved issue

1. Clean, disinfect, and maintain AER equipment according to the manufacturer's instructions and relevant scientific literature to prevent inadvertent contamination of endoscopes and bronchoscopes with waterborne microorganisms (253--257). Category IB
   
   1. To rinse disinfected endoscopes and bronchoscopes, use water of the highest quality practical for the system's engineering and design (e.g., sterile water or bacteriologically filtered
       water [water filtered through 0.1--0.2-µm filters]) (254,256--258). Category IB
   2. Dry the internal channels of the reprocessed endoscope or bronchoscope by using a proven method (e.g., 70% alcohol followed by forced-air treatment) to lessen the potential for
       proliferation of waterborne microorganisms and to help prevent biofilm formation (259--263). Category IB
    
2. Use water that meets nationally recognized standards set by the EPA for drinking water (<500 CFU/mL for heterotrophic plate count) for routine dental treatment output water (264--267). Category IC (EPA: 40 CFR 1 Part 141, Subpart G)
3. Take precautions to prevent waterborne contamination of dental unit water lines and instruments.
   
   1. After each patient, discharge water and air for a minimum of 20--30 seconds from any dental device connected to the dental water system that enters a patient's mouth (e.g.,
       handpieces, ultrasonic scalers, or air/water syringes) (265,268). Category II
   2. Consult with dental water-line manufacturers to 1) determine suitable methods and equipment to obtain the recommended water quality; and 2) determine appropriate methods for
       monitoring the water to ensure quality is maintained (265,269). Category II
   3. Consult with the dental unit manufacturer regarding the need for periodic maintenance of antiretraction mechanisms (268,269). Category IB

1. Select EPA-registered disinfectants, if available, and use them in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions (270--272). Category IC (EPA: 7 United States Code [USC] § 136 et seq.)
2. Do not use high-level disinfectants/liquid chemical sterilants for disinfection of either noncritical instruments and devices or any environmental surfaces; such use is counter to label instructions for these toxic chemicals (273--278). Category IC (Food and Drug Administration [FDA]: 21 CFR 801.5, 807.87.e)
3. Follow manufacturers' instructions for cleaning and maintaining noncritical medical equipment. Category II
4. In the absence of a manufacturer's cleaning instructions, follow certain procedures.
   
   1. Clean noncritical medical equipment surfaces with a detergent/disinfectant. This may be followed by an application of an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant with or without a
       tuberculocidal claim (depending on the nature of the surface and the degree of contamination), in accordance with germicide label instructions (274). Category II
   2. Do not use alcohol to disinfect large environmental surfaces (273). Category II
   3. Use barrier protective coverings as appropriate for noncritical surfaces that are 1) touched frequently with gloved hands during the delivery of patient care; 2) likely to become
       contaminated with blood or body substances; or 3) difficult to clean (e.g., computer keyboards) (265). Category II
    
5. Keep housekeeping surfaces (e.g., floors, walls, tabletops) visibly clean on a regular basis and clean up spills promptly (279). Category II
   
   1. Use a one-step process and an EPA-registered hospital detergent/disinfectant designed for general housekeeping purposes in patient-care areas where 1) uncertainty exists as to the
       nature of the soil on the surfaces (e.g., blood or body fluid contamination versus routine dust or dirt); or 2) uncertainty exists regarding the presence of multidrug resistant organisums
       on such surfaces (272,274,280,281). Category II
   2. Detergent and water are adequate for cleaning surfaces in nonpatient-care areas (e.g., administrative offices). Category II
   3. Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces (e.g., doorknobs, bed rails, light switches, and surfaces in and around toilets in patients' rooms) on a more frequent schedule than minimal-
       touch housekeeping surfaces. Category II
   4. Clean walls, blinds, and window curtains in patient-care areas when they are visibly dusty or soiled (270,282--284). Category II
    
6. Do not perform disinfectant fogging in patient-care areas (270,285). Category IB
7. Avoid large-surface cleaning methods that produce mists or aerosols, or disperse dust in patient-care areas (37,48,51,73). Category IB
8. Follow proper procedures for effective uses of mops, cloths, and solutions. Category II
   
   1. Prepare cleaning solutions daily or as needed, and replace with fresh solution frequently according to facility policies and procedures (280,281). Category II
   2. Change the mop head at the beginning of each day and also as required by facility policy, or after cleaning up large spills of blood or other body substances. Category II
   3. Clean mops and cloths after use and allow to dry before reuse; or use single-use, disposable mop heads and cloths (282,286--288). Category II
    
9. After the last surgical procedure of the day or night, wet vacuum or mop operating room floors with a single-use mop and an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant (114). Category IB
10. Do not use mats with tacky surfaces at the entrances to operating rooms or infection-control suites (114). Category IB
11. Use appropriate dusting methods for patient-care areas designated for immunocompromised patients (e.g., HSCT patients) (37,40,280). Category IB
    
    1. Wet-dust horizontal surfaces daily by moistening a cloth with a small amount of an EPA-registered hospital detergent/disinfectant (37,40,280). Category IB
    2. Avoid dusting methods that disperse dust (e.g., feather-dusting) (40). Category IB
     
12. Keep vacuums in good repair and equip vacuums with HEPA filters for use areas with patients at risk (37,40,280,289). Category IB
13. Close the doors of immunocompromised patients' rooms when vacuuming, waxing, or buffing corridor floors to minimize exposure to airborne dust (37,40,289). Category IB
14. When performing low- or intermediate-level disinfection of environmental surfaces in nurseries and neonatal units, avoid unnecessary exposure of neonates to disinfectant residues on these surfaces by using EPA-registered germicides in accordance with manufacturers' instructions and safety advisories (271,290--292). Category IB, IC (EPA: 7 USC § 136 et seq.)
    
    1. Do not use phenolics or any other chemical germicide to disinfect bassinets or incubators during an infant's stay (271,290--292). Category IB
    2. Rinse disinfectant-treated surfaces, especially those treated with phenolics, with water (290--292). Category IB
     
15. When using phenolic disinfectants in neonatal units, prepare solutions to correct concentrations in accordance with manufacturers' instructions, or use premixed formulations (271,290--292). Category IB, IC (EPA: 7 USC § 136 et seq.)

1. Promptly clean and decontaminate spills of blood or other potentially infectious materials (293--300). Category IB, IC (OSHA: 29 CFR 1910.1030 § d.4.ii.A)
2. Follow proper procedures for site decontamination of spills of blood or blood-containing body fluids (293--300). Category IC (OSHA: 29 CFR 1910.1030 § d.4.ii.A)
   
   1. Use protective gloves and other PPE appropriate for this task (293). Category IC (OSHA: 29 CFR 1910.1030 § d.3.i, ii)
   2. If the spill contains large amounts of blood or body fluids, clean the visible matter with disposable absorbent material, and discard the used cleaning materials in appropriate, labeled
       containers (293,298,299,301,302). Category IC (OSHA: 29 CFR 1910.1030 § d.4.iii.B)
   3. Swab the area with a cloth or paper towels moderately wetted with disinfectant, and allow the surface to dry (293,301). Category IC (OSHA: 29 CFR 1910.1030 § d.4.ii.A)
    
3. Use germicides registered by the EPA for use as hospital disinfectants and labeled tuberculocidal or registered germicides on the EPA Lists D and E (i.e., products with specific label claims for HIV or hepatitis B virus [HBV]) in accordance with label instructions to decontaminate spills of blood and other body fluids (293,301,303). Category IC (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 § d.4.ii. A memorandum 2/28/97; compliance document [CPL] 2-2.44D [11/99])
4. An EPA-registered sodium hypochlorite product is preferred, but if such products are not available, generic sodium hypochlorite solutions (e.g., household chlorine bleach) may be used.
   
   1. Use a 1:100 dilution (500--615 ppm available chlorine) to decontaminate nonporous surfaces after cleaning a spill of either blood or body fluids in patient-care settings (301,304).
       Category IB
   2. If a spill involves large amounts of blood or body fluids, or if a blood or culture spill occurs in the laboratory, use a 1:10 dilution (5,000--6,150 ppm available chlorine) for the first
       application of germicide before cleaning (279,301). Category IB

1. Vacuum carpeting in public areas of health-care facilities and in general patient-care areas regularly with well-maintained equipment designed to minimize dust dispersion (280). Category II
2. Periodically perform a thorough, deep cleaning of carpeting as determined by facility policy by using a method that minimizes the production of aerosols and leaves little or no residue (44). Category II
3. Avoid use of carpeting in high-traffic zones in patient-care areas or where spills are likely (e.g., burn therapy units, operating rooms, laboratories, or intensive care units) (44,305,306). Category IB
4. Follow appropriate procedures for managing spills on carpeting.
   
   1. Spot-clean blood or body substance spills promptly (293,301,304,307). Category IC (OSHA: 29 CFR 1910.1030 § d.4.ii.A, interpretation)
   2. If a spill occurs on carpet tiles, replace any tiles contaminated by blood and body fluids or body substances (307). Category IC (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 § d.4.ii interpretation)
    
5. Thoroughly dry wet carpeting to prevent the growth of fungi; replace carpeting that remains wet after 72 hours (37,160). Category IB
6. No recommendation is offered regarding the routine use of fungicidal or bactericidal treatments for carpeting in public areas of a health-care facility or in general patient-care areas. Unresolved issue
7. Do not use carpeting in hallways and patient rooms in areas housing immunosuppressed patients (e.g., PE areas) (37,44). Category IB
8. Avoid using upholstered furniture and furnishings in high-risk patient-care areas and in areas with increased potential for body substance contamination (e.g., pediatrics units) (37). Category II
9. No recommendation is offered regarding whether upholstered furniture and furnishings should be avoided in general patient-care areas. Unresolved issue
   
   1. Maintain upholstered furniture in good repair. Category II
   2. Maintain the surface integrity of the upholstery by repairing tears and holes. Category II
   3. If upholstered furniture in a patient's room requires cleaning to remove visible soil or body substance contamination, move that item to a maintenance area where it can be adequately
       cleaned with a process appropriate for the type of upholstery and nature of the soil. Category II

1. Flowers and potted plants need not be restricted from areas for immunocompetent patients (308--311). Category II
2. Designate care and maintenance of flowers and potted plants to staff not directly involved with patient care (309). Category II
3. If plant or flower care by patient-care staff is unavoidable, instruct the staff to wear gloves when handling plants and flowers and perform hand hygiene after glove removal (309). Category II
4. Do not allow fresh or dried flowers, or potted plants, in patient-care areas for immunosuppressed patients (37,51,308,312). Category II

1. Develop pest-control strategies, with emphasis on kitchens, cafeterias, laundries, central sterile supply areas, operating rooms, loading docks, construction activities, and other areas prone to infestations (313--315). Category II
2. Install screens on all windows that open to the outside; keep screens in good repair (314). Category IB
3. Contract for routine pest control service by a credentialed pest-control specialist who will tailor the application to the needs of a health-care facility (315). Category II
4. Place laboratory specimens (e.g., fixed sputum smears) in covered containers for overnight storage (316,317). Category II

1. Use appropriate hand hygiene, PPE (e.g., gloves), and isolation precautions during cleaning and disinfecting procedures (146,274,318,319). Category IB
2. Use standard cleaning and disinfection protocols to control environmental contamination with antibiotic-resistant, gram-positive cocci (e.g., methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin intermediate sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, or vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus [VRE]) (318,320--322). Category IB
   
   1. Pay close attention to cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces in patient-care areas (e.g., bed rails, carts, charts, bedside commodes, bed rails, doorknobs, or faucet handles)
       (318,320--322). Category IB
   2. Ensure compliance by housekeeping staff with cleaning and disinfection procedures (318,320--322). Category IB
   3. Use EPA-registered chemical germicides appropriate for the surface to be disinfected (e.g., either low- or intermediate-level disinfection) as specified by the manufacturer's
       instructions (271,322--327). Category IB, IC (EPA: 7 USC § 136 et seq.)
   4. When contact precautions are indicated for patient care, use disposable patient-care items (e.g., blood pressure cuffs) wherever possible to minimize cross-contamination with
       multiple-resistant microorganisms (328). Category IB
   5. Follow these same surface-cleaning and disinfecting measures for managing the environment of VRSA patients (320--322,327). Category II
    
3. Environmental-surface culturing can be used to verify the efficacy of hospital policies and procedures before and after cleaning and disinfecting rooms that house patients with VRE (318,329--333). Category II
   
   1. Obtain prior approval from infection-control staff and the clinical laboratory before performing environmental-surface culturing. Category II
   2. Infection-control staff, with clinical laboratory staff consultation, must supervise all environmental culturing. Category II
    
4. Thoroughly clean and disinfect environmental and medical equipment surfaces on a regular basis by using EPA-registered disinfectants in accordance with manufacturers' instructions (271,274,319, 334). Category IB, IC (EPA: 7 USC § 136 et seq.)
5. Advise families, visitors, and patients regarding the importance of hand hygiene to minimize the spread of body substance contamination (e.g., respiratory secretions or fecal matter) to surfaces (274). Category II
6. Do not use high-level disinfectants (i.e., liquid chemical sterilants) on environmental surfaces; such use is inconsistent with label instructions because of the toxicity of the chemicals (270,273,274,278). Category IC (FDA: 21 CFR 801.5, 807.87.e)
7. Because no EPA-registered products are specific for inactivating Clostridium difficile spores, use hypochlorite-based products for disinfection of environmental surfaces in accordance with guidance from the scientific literature in those patient-care areas where surveillance and epidemiology indicate ongoing transmission of C. difficile (274,319,334). Category II
8. No recommendation is offered regarding the use of specific EPA-registered hospital disinfectants with respect to environmental control of C. difficile. Unresolved issue
9. Apply standard cleaning and disinfection procedures to control environmental contamination with respiratory and enteric viruses in pediatric-care units and care areas for immunocompromised patients (280,335). Category IC (EPA: 7 USC § 136 et seq.)
10. Clean surfaces that have been contaminated with body substances; perform low- to intermediate-level disinfection on cleaned surfaces with an EPA-registered disinfectant in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions (271,293,335). Category IC (OSHA: 29 CFR 1910.1030 § d.4.ii.A; EPA: 7 USC § 136 et seq.)
11. Use disposable barrier coverings as appropriate to minimize surface contamination. Category II
12. Develop and maintain cleaning and disinfection procedures in patient-care areas to control environmental contamination with agents of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), for which no EPA-registered product exists. Category II
    
    1. In the absence of contamination with central nervous system tissue, extraordinary measures (e.g., use of 2N sodium hydroxide [NaOH] or applying full-strength sodium hypochlorite)
        are not needed for routine cleaning or terminal disinfection of a room housing a confirmed or suspected CJD patient (273,336). Category II
    2. After removing gross tissue from the surface, use either 1N NaOH or a sodium hypochlorite solution containing approximately 10,000--20,000 ppm available chlorine (dilutions of
        1:5 to 1:3 v/v, respectively, of U.S. household chlorine bleach; contact the manufacturers of commercially available sodium hypochlorite products for advice) to decontaminate
        operating room or autopsy surfaces with central nervous system or cerebral spinal fluid contamination from a diagnosed or suspected CJD patient (273,337--342). Category II
    
        a. The contact time for the chemical used during this process should be 30 min--1 hour (339,340,342).
        b. Blot up the chemical with absorbent material and rinse the treated surface thoroughly with water.
        c. Discard the used, absorbent material into appropriate waste containers.
    
    3. Use disposable, impervious covers to minimize body substance contamination to autopsy tables and surfaces (340,342). Category II
     
13. Use standard procedures for containment, cleaning, and decontamination of blood spills on surfaces as previously described (Environmental Services: II) (293). Category IC (OSHA: 29 CFR 1910.1030 § d.4.ii.A)
    
    1. Wear PPE appropriate for a surface decontamination and cleaning task (293,336). Category IC (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 § d.3.i, ii)
    2. Discard used PPE by using routine disposal procedures or decontaminate reusable PPE as appropriate (293,336). Category IC (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 § d.3.viii)

1. Do not conduct random, undirected, microbiologic sampling of air, water, and environmental surfaces in health-care facilities (270,343). Category IB
2. When indicated, conduct microbiologic sampling as part of an epidemiologic investigation or during assessment of hazardous environmental conditions to detect contamination or verify abatement of a hazard (270,343). Category IB
3. Limit microbiologic sampling for quality assurance purposes to 1) biologic monitoring of sterilization processes; 2) monthly cultures of water and dialysate in hemodialysis units; and 3) short-term evaluation of the impact of infection-control measures or changes in infection-control protocols (270,343). Category IB

1. When conducting any form of environmental sampling, identify existing comparative standards and fully document departures from standard methods (343--347). Category II
2. Select a high-volume air sampling device if anticipated levels of microbial airborne contamination are expected to be low (345,346,348,349). Category II
3. Do not use settle plates to quantify the concentration of airborne fungal spores (348). Category II
4. When sampling water, choose growth media and incubation conditions that will facilitate recovery of waterborne organisms (344). Category II
5. When using a sample/rinse method for sampling an environmental surface, develop and document a procedure for manipulating the swab, gauze, or sponge in a reproducible manner so that results are comparable (347). Category II
6. When environmental samples and patient specimens are available for comparison, perform the laboratory analysis on the recovered microorganisms down to the species level at a minimum, and beyond the species level if possible (343). Category II

1. Employers must launder workers' personal protective garments or uniforms that are contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials (293). Category IC (OSHA: 29 CFR 1910.1030 § d.3.iv)

1. Maintain the receiving area for contaminated textiles at negative pressure compared with the clean areas of the laundry in accordance with AIA construction standards in effect during the time of facility construction (1,350--352). Category IC (AIA: 7.23.B1, B2)
2. Ensure that laundry areas have handwashing facilities and products and appropriate PPE available for workers (1,293). Category IC (AIA: 7.23.D4; OSHA: 29 CFR 1910.1030 § d.2.iii)
3. Use and maintain laundry equipment according to manufacturers' instructions (353,354). Category II
4. Do not leave damp textiles or fabrics in machines overnight (353). Category II
5. Disinfection of washing and drying machines in residential care is not needed as long as gross soil is removed from items before washing and proper washing and drying procedures are used. Category II

1. Handle contaminated textiles and fabrics with minimum agitation to avoid contamination of air, surfaces, and persons (36,293,355,356). Category IC (OSHA: 29 CFR 1910.1030 § d.4.iv)
2. Bag or otherwise contain contaminated textiles and fabrics at the point of use (293). Category IC (OSHA: 29 CFR 1910.1030 § d.4.iv)
   
   1. Do not sort or prerinse contaminated textiles or fabrics in patient-care areas (293). Category IC (OSHA: 29 CFR 1910.1030 § d.4.iv)
   2. Use leak-resistant containment for textiles and fabrics contaminated with blood or body substances (293,355). Category IC (OSHA: 29 CFR 1910.1030 § d.4.iv)
   3. Identify bags or containers for contaminated textiles with labels, color coding, or other alternative means of communication as appropriate (293). Category IC (OSHA: 29 CFR
       1910.1030 § d.4.iv)
    
3. Covers are not needed on contaminated textile hampers in patient-care areas. Category II
4. If laundry chutes are used, ensure that they are properly designed, maintained, and used in a manner to minimize dispersion of aerosols from contaminated laundry (357--361). Category IC (AAMI: ANSI/AAMI ST65:2000)
   
   1. Ensure that laundry bags are closed before tossing the filled bag into the chute. Category II
   2. Do not place loose items in the laundry chute. Category II
    
5. Establish a facility policy to determine when textiles or fabrics should be sorted in the laundry facility (i.e., before or after washing) (362,363). Category II

1. If hot-water laundry cycles are used, wash with detergent in water >160^ºF (>71^ºC) for >25 minutes (1,270). Category IC (AIA: 7.31.E3)
2. No recommendation is offered regarding a hot-water temperature setting and cycle duration for items laundered in residence-style health-care facilities. Unresolved issue
3. Follow fabric-care instructions and special laundering requirements for items used in the facility (364). Category II
4. Choose chemicals suitable for low-temperature washing at proper use concentration if low-temperature (<160^ºF [<70^ºC ]) laundry cycles are used (365--370). Category II
5. Package, transport, and store clean textiles and fabrics by methods that will ensure their cleanliness and protect them from dust and soil during interfacility loading, transport, and unloading (270). Category II

V. Microbiologic Sampling of Textiles

1. Do not conduct routine microbiologic sampling of clean textiles (270,371). Category IB
2. Use microbiologic sampling during outbreak investigations if epidemiologic evidence indicates a role for health-care textiles and clothing in disease transmission (371). Category IB

1. Use sterilized textiles, surgical drapes, and gowns for situations requiring sterility in patient care (114). Category IB
2. Use hygienically clean textiles (i.e., laundered, but not sterilized) in neonatal intensive care units (292,372). Category IB
3. Follow manufacturers' recommendations for cleaning fabric products, including those with coated or laminated surfaces. Category II
4. Do not use dry cleaning for routine laundering in health-care facilities (373--375). Category II
5. Use caution when considering use of antimicrobial mattresses, textiles, and clothing as replacements for standard bedding and other fabric items; EPA has not approved public health claims asserting protection against human pathogens for such treated items (376). Category II
6. No recommendation is offered regarding using disposable fabrics and textiles versus durable goods. Unresolved issue

1. Keep mattresses dry; discard them if they remain wet or stained, particularly in burn units (377--382). Category IB
2. Clean and disinfect mattress covers by using EPA-registered disinfectants that are compatible with the materials to prevent the development of tears, cracks, or holes in the covers (377--382). Category IB
3. Maintain the integrity of mattress and pillow covers. Category II
   
   1. Replace mattress and pillow covers if they become torn or otherwise in need of repair. Category II
   2. Do not stick needles into a mattress through the cover. Category II
    
4. Clean and disinfect moisture-resistant mattress covers between patient use by using an EPA-registered product (377--382). Category IB
5. If using a mattress cover completely made of fabric, change these covers and laund