Does Joint Commission require implementation of all the recommendations in the CDC or WHO hand hygiene guidelines?
A. Each of the CDC and WHO hand hygiene recommendations is categorized on the basis of the strength of evidence supporting the recommendation. All “category I” recommendations (including categories IA, IB, and IC) must be implemented. Category II recommendations should be considered for implementation but are not required for accreditation purposes. Category IA recommendations are strongly supported by well-designed experimental, clinical, or epidemiological studies; category IB recommendations are supported by certain experimental, clinical, or epidemiological studies and a strong theoretical rationale; category IC recommendations are required by regulation; category II recommendations are supported by suggestive clinical or epidemiological studies or a theoretical rationale. The CDC also includes among its recommendations several “unresolved issues” for which it makes “no recommendation.
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