The Trump administration has dissolved a federal advisory committee responsible for guidance aimed at preventing the spread of infectious diseases in healthcare settings.
The Healthcare Infection Control Practice Advisory Committee (HICPAC) created national standards for U.S. hospitals concerning practices such as handwashing, mask-wearing, and patient isolation for those with chronic illnesses.
Four committee members reported that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the termination of HICPAC on Friday.
A letter obtained by NBC News — sent by the CDC following a virtual meeting — indicated that the committee ended over a month ago, on March 31. The letter referenced President Donald Trump’s Executive Order calling for significant cuts in the federal workforce.
Previously, four professional associations urged Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a letter dated March 26 to retain the committee amid extensive reductions to federal health agencies. Neither the CDC nor the Department of Health and Human Services responded immediately to a request for comment on Tuesday.
Some of the committee’s web pages have been archived, meaning they are still accessible online but will no longer be updated.
Committee members are concerned that the guidelines could become outdated, failing to incorporate new scientific research or address the spread of drug-resistant organisms, as outlined in specific threats to hospitals.
“If things need to change, the guidelines may not adapt, leading to a precarious situation,” stated Connie Steed, a HICPAC member since 2023 and a former president of the Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.
Dr. Anurag Malani, a fellow at the American Infectious Diseases Society who joined HICPAC in January, noted that the committee was nearing the completion of new guidelines for airborne pathogens before its termination. Previous guidelines had not been updated since 2007 and controversially recommended surgical masks over N95 respirators for preventing the spread of specific pathogens.
“There was much valuable information available. The lessons learned from Covid were shaping our guidelines to improve our previous protocols,” Malani reflected.
Jane Thomason, lead hygienist at National Nurses United, expressed regret over the committee’s dissolution, highlighting that it hampers the transparency of public health guidance. HICPAC had appointed Thomason to a workgroup last year.
“Concerns have been raised regarding HICPAC’s composition and proposed guidance, but its closure eliminates significant public transparency,” Thomason stated on Tuesday. “Without public HICPAC meetings, there is no access to the drafting process for CDC guidance on infection control in healthcare settings, ultimately compromising the safety of patients, nurses, and other healthcare personnel.”
According to a CDC letter from Friday, HICPAC had issued 540 recommendations since its formation over three decades ago, with 90% fully implemented.
Malani emphasized the need for consistent infection control practices nationwide, asserting that ongoing recommendations are essential.
“We should prevent state and local health departments from having to navigate this independently,” he concluded.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
