Agencies
Services
Director's Letters – Friday, February 14, 2025
Dr. Vohra Spotlights Clinical Guidance on the IDPH Website and Other Sources
Dear Colleagues,
I write today to share certain clinical guidance documents that may have recently been removed from federal agency websites or are potentially expected to change in the future.
We know that access to this evidence-based guidance is essential and needs to remain readily available as you care for your patients. IDPH is actively working to make these accessible on our website and providing links below to other sources where they may be accessed. Although not an exhaustive list, the below information has been reviewed by our experts and follows the most up to date evidence. IDPH will continue providing updates as warranted.
Please note that several third-party archiving websites collect and share similar information. While we cannot endorse any one specific third-party website, we ask clinicians to use their best judgment and expertise in determining the quality and content of what is available on those sites. We recommend cross-referencing any information found on these third-party websites with clinical recommendations found on the IDPH website or from your specialty organizations.
Vaccination
In addition to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) webpage, the current version of ACIP Vaccine-Specific Recommendations may be accessed in downloadable format through Immunize.org.
The IDPH Immunization Section’s website also contains downloadable toolkits and educational materials from CDC on vaccine hesitancy, among other resources for health care professionals on immunizations.
Infection Prevention
The IDPH Regional Infection Prevention Program is also making available certain CDC infection prevention guidelines that we expect health care facilities, including long-term care facilities, to refer to for operational guidance. The following guidelines can be downloaded from the IDPH website through the links below.
- Preventing Transmission of Viral Respiratory Pathogens in Healthcare Settings | Infection Control | CDC
- Infection Control Guidance: SARS-CoV-2
- Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 | COVID-19 | CDC
- Infection Prevention and Control Strategies for Seasonal Influenza in Healthcare Settings
Reproductive Health
The Office of Women’s and Family Services has also enhanced access to several contraceptive guidelines.
- U.S. Medical Eligibility for Contraceptive Use 2024 (CDC MEC)
- U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use 2024 (CDC SPR)
- Clinical Guidance from The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). These are available on the ACOG website as “ACOG Endorsed documents” and include other clinical documents with no login required.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)
The STI and HIV Sections at IDPH have several resources on their web pages and additionally provide downloadable versions.
- Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, CDC 2021
- Preexposure Prophylaxis for the Prevention of HIV Infection in the United States – 2021 Update
- 2021 CDC Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment pocket guide
- 2021 CDC Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment wall chart
The CDC STI and MEC/SPR apps are still functioning if already installed.
Substance Use Disorder
The Office of Health Promotion’s Opioid webpage has the following CDC guidelines in downloadable format.
- 2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain can be found here
- Clinician training: Health Care Provider Trainings | Overdose Prevention | CDC
- Landing page for health care professionals: Overdose Prevention for Health Care Providers | Overdose Prevention | CDC
- Toolkits for clinicians: Health Care Provider Toolkits | Overdose Prevention | CDC
In addition, there are other non-CDC federal and non-government national guidelines (evidence-based guidelines) that could serve as alternatives to CDC guidelines when applicable.
Opioid prescribing
- VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Use of Opioids in the Management of Chronic Pain
- Clinical Policy: Critical Issues Related to Opioids in Adult Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department (American College of Emergency Physicians, endorsed by the American Society of Addiction Medicine)
- Opioid Prescribing for Acute Pain Management in Children and Adolescents in Outpatient Settings: Clinical Practice Guideline (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Opioid use disorder treatment
Substance use disorders
- National Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder: 2020 Focused Update (American Society of Addiction Medicine)
- Substance Use Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Management of Stimulant Use Disorder (American Society of Addiction Medicine/American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry)
We appreciate your hard work as you support those who seek care in Illinois. Please contact us here for any additional information.
Yours in good health,
Sameer Vohra, MD, JD, MA
Director
Illinois Department of Public Health
