The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released memo QSO-24-08-NH on March 20 incorporating Enhanced Barrier Precautions into nursing home infection control requirements. The standard, introduced by Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) in 2019 and updated in July 2022, is meant to be a way of reducing transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) when the more restrictive Contact Precautions do not apply.
The standard was referenced in the October 2022 update to Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual but will now be surveyed under F880 Infection Control as an accepted national standard beginning on April 1, 2024. Read more here.
CDC developed several resources when EBPs were updated in July 2022 to assist nursing homes in understanding and implementing the recommendations. Access a video presentation on EBP here. Download the slides from this presentation here.
