Guide to Managing an Emergency Service Infection Control Program

In 1992, the United States Fire Administration (USFA) developed the Guide to Developing an Emergency Service Infection Control Program in conjunction with the National Fire Academy (NFA) field course, Infection Control for Emergency Response Personnel: The Supervisor's Role. These two major Federal initiatives were designed to provide accurate information and guidance to the emergency services regarding communicable disease infection control. Both were developed with the support and assistance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), to coincide with the promulgation of 29 CFR Part 1910.1030, Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens, Final Rule. Since the original publication, many advances have occurred in the field of infection control, and all emergency services should have some form of infection control program. The initial guide focused on the development of an infection control program. The new Guide to Managing an Emergency Service Infection Control Program updates relevant information from the original 1992 guide and focuses on the management of an infection control program.