Infectious Diseases Society of America Guidelines on Infection Prevention for Healthcare Personnel Caring for Patients With Suspected or Known COVID-19 (November 2021).

This article focuses on evidence-based rapid guidelines developed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) to support healthcare personnel (HCP) in infection prevention when caring for patients with suspected or confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The guidelines provide eight key recommendations on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including strong recommendations for medical/surgical masks or respirators and eye protection during routine care, and for N95 or higher-level respirators during aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs). In settings with PPE shortages (contingency or crisis capacity), the guidelines suggest strategies such as reusing reprocessed N95 respirators and using face shields or surgical masks over respirators to extend their use. The recommendations emphasize appropriate PPE use combined with proper donning and doffing procedures, acknowledge significant evidence gaps, and highlight the need for further research on transmission dynamics, PPE effectiveness, and safe reuse practices. These guidelines serve as a minimum standard and do not replace local risk assessments or regulatory requirements.