1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Today I’m writing on an urgent matter: The decision to terminate the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) is another in a series of red flags about this administration’s commitment to protect the country and we the people. Loss of this vital committee will hinder the ability to update critical infection control guidelines based on new scientific research and emerging threats like drug-resistant organisms. This federal advisory committee has played a vital role for over three decades, issuing 540 recommendations to the CDC on preventing the spread of infections in healthcare facilities, with 90% being fully implemented according to the CDC's own letter. HICPAC's guidance on hand hygiene, mask usage, and isolating sick patients forms the national standards followed by most U.S. hospitals. Without this committee, there is a risk that infection control practices may become inconsistent across states and facilities. Furthermore, the committee was close to finalizing updated guidelines for airborne pathogens, incorporating lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic to better prepare for future respiratory disease outbreaks. Terminating HICPAC removes transparency from the process of drafting infection control guidance for healthcare settings. This undermines safety for patients, healthcare workers, and the general public. Instead , we must have robust national standards based on evolving scientific evidence. It’s crucial to protect people and curb the spread of infectious diseases, especially in vulnerable healthcare environments. Reinstating this critical advisory committee should be a priority to safeguard public health. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.