Which organizations provide guidelines for infection control in healthcare settings?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are instrumental in providing guidelines for infection control in healthcare settings. The CDC is a national public health institute that offers comprehensive guidelines aimed at preventing and controlling infections, particularly in hospitals and healthcare environments. Their recommendations are based on extensive research and are designed to protect both healthcare workers and patients from infectious diseases.

OSHA plays a critical role by ensuring safe and healthful working conditions. It establishes and enforces standards that protect healthcare workers from occupational hazards, including biological risks associated with infection. This dual focus on worker safety and public health makes the combination of these two organizations particularly effective in promoting effective infection control practices within healthcare settings.

In contrast, while other organizations have important roles within the healthcare system, their focus may not specifically center on infection control guidelines. For instance, the World Health Organization (WHO) provides global health guidelines, but on a larger scale, and the FDA and EPA focus more on the safety of food, drugs, and environmental concerns rather than directly on infection control practices common to healthcare facilities. Thus, the choice highlighting the CDC and OSHA as the primary sources of infection control guidelines is accurate and well-founded in the context of healthcare settings.