The CDC and its Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee has issued a clarification statement on environmental fogging.
CDC and HICPAC have recommendations in both 2003 Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities and the 2008 Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities that state that the CDC does not support disinfectant fogging. Specifically, the 2003 and 2008 guidelines state:
• 2003: "Do not perform disinfectant fogging for routine purposes in patient-care areas. Category IB"
• 2008: "Do not perform disinfectant fogging in patient-care areas. Category II"
These recommendations refer to the spraying or fogging of chemicals as a way to decontaminate environmental surfaces or disinfect the air in patient rooms. The recommendation against fogging was based on studies in the 1970s that reported a lack of microbicidal efficacy but also adverse effects on healthcare workers. Furthermore, some of these chemicals are not EPA-registered for use in fogging-type applications.
These recommendations do not apply to newer technologies involving fogging for room decontamination that have become available since the 2003 and 2008 recommendations were made. Although the 2003 and 2008 guidelines apply, the CDC has not yet made a recommendation regarding these newer technologies. The agency will revisit the issue as additional evidence becomes available.
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CDC and HICPAC have recommendations in both 2003 Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities and the 2008 Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities that state that the CDC does not support disinfectant fogging. Specifically, the 2003 and 2008 guidelines state:
• 2003: "Do not perform disinfectant fogging for routine purposes in patient-care areas. Category IB"
• 2008: "Do not perform disinfectant fogging in patient-care areas. Category II"
These recommendations refer to the spraying or fogging of chemicals as a way to decontaminate environmental surfaces or disinfect the air in patient rooms. The recommendation against fogging was based on studies in the 1970s that reported a lack of microbicidal efficacy but also adverse effects on healthcare workers. Furthermore, some of these chemicals are not EPA-registered for use in fogging-type applications.
These recommendations do not apply to newer technologies involving fogging for room decontamination that have become available since the 2003 and 2008 recommendations were made. Although the 2003 and 2008 guidelines apply, the CDC has not yet made a recommendation regarding these newer technologies. The agency will revisit the issue as additional evidence becomes available.
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