Disclaimer
is Guideline attempts to define principles of practice that should produce high-quality patient
care. It is applicable to specialists, primary care, and providers at all levels. is Guideline
should not be considered exclusive of other methods of care reasonably directed at obtaining the
same results. e ultimate judgment concerning the propriety of any course of conduct must be
made by the clinician aer consideration of each individual patient situation.
Neither IGC, the medical associations, nor the authors endorse any product or service associated
with the distributor of this clinical reference tool.
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IDSAHAI14093
Strength of Recommendation and Quality of Evidence
Grade Definition
I – High
Highly confident that the true effect lies close to that of the
estimated size and direction of the effect.
II – Moderate
The true effect is likely to be close to the estimated size and
direction of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is
substantially different.
III – Low
The true effect may be substantially different from the estimated
size and direction of the effect.
NA
Not applicable
Based on Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) and the
Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care.
Abbreviations
ABHR, alcohol-based hand rub; AST, Active Surveillance Testing ; BSI, bloodstream
infection; CAUTI, catheter-associated urinary tract infection; CDC, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention; CDI, C. difficile infection; CLABSI, central line–associated
bloodstream infections; CVC, central venous catheter; EPA, US Environmental
Protection Agency; HAI, healthcare-associated infection; HCP, health care practitioner;
ICU, intensive care unit; IPC, infection prevention and control; MRSA, methicillin-
resistant Staphylococcus aureus; NHSN, National Healthcare Safety Network; NA,
not applicable; OR, operating room; SIR, standardized infection ratio; SSI, surgical
site infection; SSTI, skin and so-tissue infection, UTI, urinary tract infection; VAE,
ventilator-associated events; VAP, ventilator-associated pneumonia
