*The Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) is a federal advisory committee made up of 14 external infection control experts who provide advice and guidance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding the practice of health care infection control, strategies for surveillance and prevention and control of health care associated infections in United States health care facilities.

*One of the primary functions of the committee is to issue recommendations for preventing and controlling health care associated infections in the form of guidelines, recommendations and informal communications.

*Other functions and activities include information exchange with CDC staff and formal and informal interactions with other CDC advisory committees such as the National Center for Infectious Diseases Board of Scientific Counselors, the Advisory Counsel on Elimination of Tuberculosis and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

*The committee has liaison representatives from professional organizations and other federal agencies - including the Association for Professionals of Infection Control and Epidemiology Inc., the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, the Association of Peri-Operative Registered Nurses, the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services, the Food and Drug Administration; and such other non-voting liaison representatives as the Secretary deems necessary to effectively carry out the functions of the Committee.

*The 14 members include the chair, co-chair and one federal member. Members are recommended by the CDC and appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services from experts in the fields of infectious diseases, healthcare associated infections, nursing, surgery, epidemiology, public health, health outcomes and related areas of expertise.

CDC protects people's health and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living through strong partnerships with local, national, and international organizations.