The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released consolidated recommendations for COVID-19 testing, including interim testing guidelines for nursing home residents and healthcare personnel, and testing strategy options for high-density critical infrastructure workplaces after a COVID-19 case is identified. These recommendations compile and update previous testing guidance.
“Testing Guidelines for Nursing Homes” is an important addition to other infection prevention and control (IPC) recommendations aimed at keeping COVID-19 out of nursing homes (as well as other long-term care facilities), detecting cases quickly if they do occur, and stopping further transmission in these facilities. Nursing home residents are at high risk for infection, serious illness, and death from the disease. Updates include a recommendation against testing the same individual more than once in a 24-hour period; consideration for testing residents with symptoms for other causes of respiratory illness, such as influenza; and coordination of repeat testing in response to outbreaks with local, territorial, and state health departments. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/nursing-homes-testing.html
The consolidated recommendations for testing, “Overview of Testing for SARS-CoV-2,” were developed based on what is currently known about COVID-19 and are subject to change as additional information becomes available. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/testing-overview.html
Compliance Perspective
Failure to update the facility’s Infection Prevention and Control Program to include the most current CDC updates regarding interim testing guidelines may hinder nursing homes’ efforts to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus, place vulnerable residents in jeopardy for illness and death, and be considered provision of substandard quality of care, in violation of state and federal regulations.
Discussion Points:
- Review policies and procedures to ensure that they are being kept up to date regarding COVID-19 guidelines issued by the CDC and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
- Train staff on a regular basis regarding CDC and CMS guidance for infection control and prevention addressing the spread of COVID-19, e.g., testing, hand hygiene, and proper PPE use.
- Periodically audit to ensure that the facility has implemented the most current guidance from CDC and CMS regarding COVID-19.
