03-1825. Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC): Meeting

In accordance with section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the following meeting.

Name: Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee.

Times and Dates: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., February 24, 2003; 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., February 25, 2003.

Place: Swissotel, 3391 Peachtree Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.

Status: Open to the public, limited only by the space available.

Purpose: The Committee is charged with providing advice and guidance to the Secretary, HHS, the Director, CDC, the Director, National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID), and the Director, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion; NCID, regarding (1) the practice of hospital infection strategies for surveillance, prevention, and control of healthcare-associated infections (e.g., nosocomial infections), antimicrobial resistance, and related events in settings where healthcare is provided; and (2) periodic updating of guidelines and other policy statements regarding prevention of healthcare-associated infections and healthcare-related conditions.

Matters To Be Discussed: Agenda items will include a review of the Draft Guideline for Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings (formerly Guideline for Isolation Precautions in Hospitals); the Draft Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Settings; the Draft Guideline for Prevention of Healthcare-associated Pneumonia; infection control issues related to smallpox and vaccinia; injection safety in ambulatory healthcare settings; and updates on CDC activities of interest to the committee.

Agenda items are subject to change as priorities dictate.

Contact Person for More Information: Michele L. Pearson, M.D., Executive Secretary, HICPAC, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, NCID, CDC, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, M/S A-07, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, telephone [phone].

The Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, has been delegated the authority to sign Federal Register notices pertaining to announcements of meetings and other committee management activities, for both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Dated: January 22, 2003.

Alvin Hall,

Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.