CDC updates EBP guidance for nursing home staff

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its enhanced barrier precautions (EBP) guidance for nursing facilities to protect residents, who are at greater risk for developing infection with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO). MDRO contributes to resident deaths and higher health care costs, the CDC said. The guidance now requires staff to wear gowns and gloves during high contact resident care activities for any resident with an indwelling medical device or wound, regardless of MDRO colonization or infection status. The guidance also expanded the types of MDROs for which staff need to wear gowns and gloves, and clarified that in most situations, staff should wear gloves and gowns for a resident’s entire stay.