Protecting Healthcare Personnel

The resources on this page are intended to promote patient safety and increase the safety of the healthcare work environment through improved use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by healthcare personnel.

For detailed guidance on personal protective equipment (PPE) while managing patients with Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) click here.

Guidelines

Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings 2007 [PDF – 3.80 MB] This document is intended for use by infection control staff, healthcare epidemiologists, healthcare administrators, nurses, other healthcare providers, and persons responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating infection control programs for healthcare settings across the continuum of care.

Guidelines for Infection Control in Healthcare Personnel, 1998 [PDF – 1.04 MB]
This guideline is designed to provide methods for reducing the transmission of infections from patients to healthcare personnel and from healthcare personnel to patients.

Additional healthcare infection control guidelines are at the HICPAC Publications page.

Slides

Guidance for the Selection and Use of Personal Protective Equipment in Healthcare Settings

CDC has developed this slide set for use by staff development, infection control, and occupational health personnel for training healthcare personnel on how to select and use personal protective equipment PPE to protect themselves from exposure to microbiological hazards in the healthcare setting.

Available Formats for download:

• PowerPoint [PPT – 1.45 MB]
• PDF [PDF – 285 KB]
• Trainers Information
  Important information about the slideset, how to use it and training suggestions

Posters

Sequence for Donning and Removing Personal Protective Equipment

This poster demonstrates the sequence for donning and removing PPE. The poster provides key instructions to reinforce safe practices and are intended to limit the spread of contamination.

English Version, 8.5″ x 11″ size [PDF – 2.85 MB]

Protecting Healthcare Personnel from HIV

• Updated US Public Health Service Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures to Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology Vol. 34, No. 9 (September 2013)
  Infographic: Exposed to HIV? The clock is ticking! Take Action! [PDF – 3.5 MB]
• Exposure to Blood What Healthcare Personnel Need to Know [PDF – 330 KB] July 2003
  NOTE: Please see the updated 2013 guidelines above for information on management of occupational HIV exposure and postexposure prophylaxis.
• Visit the CDC Sharps Safety site for resources to help healthcare facilities prevent needlesticks and other sharps-related injuries to healthcare personnel.
• 

  Download:
  8.5″ x 29″ poster [PDF 3.5 MB]

• Updated U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis MMWR June 29, 2001 / 50(RR11);1-42.
  NOTE: Please see the updated 2013 guidelines above for information on management of occupational HIV exposure and postexposure prophylaxis.
  Poster:
  • Management of Occupational Blood Exposures to HBV, HCV, or HIV [PDF – 112 KB]Appendix A. Practice Recommendations for Health-Care Facilities Implementing the U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines for Management of Occupational Exposures to Bloodborne Pathogens MMWR June 29, 2001 / 50(RR11);43-44
  • Appendix B. Management of Occupational Blood Exposures MMWR June 29, 2001 / 50(RR11);45-46
  • Appendix C. Basic and Expanded HIV Postexposure Prophylaxis Regimens MMWR June 29, 2001 / 50(RR11);47-52

National Clinicians Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Hotline (PEPline)
Hotline providing clinicians with guidance on managing occupational exposures to HIV, viral hepatitis, and other bloodborne pathogens. Open 9 a.m. – 2 a.m. EST, seven days a week.

Retired Guidance and Resources

The following guidance and resources have been retired and are included on this webpage for historic and reference purposes only. These are no longer considered current CDC guidance.

• Preventing Needlestick Injuries in Healthcare Settings NIOSH 1999
• Evaluation of Safety Devices for Preventing Percutaneous Injuries Among Healthcare Workers During Phlebotomy Procedures 1993-1995. MMWR 1997
• Evaluation of Blunt Suture Needles in Preventing Percutaneous Injuries Among Healthcare Workers During Gynecologic Surgical Procedures March 1993-June 1994. MMWR 1997
• Case-control study of HIV seroconversion in Healthcare worker after percutaneous exposure to HIV-infected blood MMWR 1995
• USPHS/IDSA Guidelines for the prevention of opportunistic infections in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus: a summary. MMWR 1995
• Guidelines for preventing the transmission of HIV through transplantation of human tissue and organs. MMWR 1994
• Use of vaccines and immune globulin in persons with altered immunocompetence (Recommendations of the ACIP). MMWR 1993 Recommendations for HIV testing services for inpatients and outpatients in acute-care hospital settings. MMWR 1993
• Recommendations for Preventing Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B Virus to Patients During Exposure-Prone Invasive Procedures MMWR July 12, 1991 / 40(RR08)
• Guidelines for Prevention of Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B Virus to Health-Care and Public-Safety Workers A Response to P.L. 100-607 The Health Omnibus Programs Extension Act of 1988 MMWR June 23, 1989 / 38(S-6);3-37
• CDC’s Perspectives in Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Update: Universal Precautions for Prevention of Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, and Other Bloodborne Pathogens in Health-Care Settings – MMWR June 24, 1988 / 37(24);377-388
• CDC Recommendations for prevention of HIV transmission in Healthcare settings MMWR August 21, 1987 / 36(SU02);001