WHO has updated its guidelines for COVID-19 therapeutics, with revised recommendations for patients with non-severe COVID-19. This is the 13th update to these guidelines. Updated risk rates for hospital admission in patients with non-severe COVID-19 The guidance includes updated risk rates for hospital admission in patients with non-severe COVID-19. The …
Weekly health care personnel (HCP) & Resident COVID-19 Vaccination Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Data Reporting Long-term care facilities can track weekly COVID-19 vaccination data for residents and healthcare personnel (HCP) through NHSN. November 2023 Updates Resources Influenza/RSV Influenza/RSV: Understanding Key Terms and Up to Date Vaccination – November 2023 [PDF – 1 …
In May 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid) for the treatment of certain adults with COVID-19. However, ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir was initially only available from Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) supplies, and its use was constrained by the terms and conditions of the EUA. …
Overview from the World Health Organization The Infection prevention and control in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a living guideline consolidates technical guidance developed and published during the COVID-19 pandemic into evidence-informed recommendations for infection prevention and control (IPC). This living guideline is available both online and PDF. This version of the living …
Weekly / October 6, 2023 / 72(40);1095–1098 Summary What is already known about this topic? Long-term care (LTC) facility residents are vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection because of their advanced age, medical complexity, and congregate living situation; vaccination is an effective means for reducing COVID-19 incidence in this population. What is added …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will change the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) surveillance definition of “up to date” for reporting weeks beginning on Sept. 25, 2023, to align with new (pending) ACIP recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines. Once the new vaccine and new (pending) vaccination recommendations are applied …
Memo # QSO-23-02-ALL (EXPIRED) Posting Date 2023-07-25 Fiscal Year 2023 EXPIRATION INFORMATION: CMS PUBLISHED A FINAL RULE WHICH ENDED THE REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO STAFF VACCINATION FOR ALL PROVIDER TYPES, EFFECTIVE ON 8/05/23. ADDITIONALLY, THIS RULE STATES THAT CMS WILL NOT BE ENFORCING THE STAFF VACCINATION PROVISIONS BETWEEN 6/05/23 AND 8/04/23. …
Question: Do we still need to quarantine non-vaccinated residents? Answer from Kellie VanRee, RN, LNHA: This document from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Infection Control: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) | CDC, section 2 under the second bolded header states, “In general, asymptomatic patients do not …
The end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023, has marked the end of many waivers, including the 3-day qualifying hospital stay and benefit period waivers. For many new nurse assessment coordinators (NACs), this may be their first experience working outside the allowances of the waivers. …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule on May 31, 2023, withdrawing the federal requirement of COVID-19 vaccinations for healthcare personnel (HCP). Although the requirement is being lifted, CMS continues to encourage staff vaccination through other programs such as the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting …
