A comprehensive methodology handbook for developing clinical guidelines, expert guidance documents, consensus statements, and practice statements in infection prevention and healthcare epidemiology. Covers proposal processes, systematic literature review, evidence grading, consensus methods, and development timelines.
A comprehensive methodology handbook for developing clinical practice guidelines, expert guidance documents, consensus statements, and practice statements in infection prevention and control (IPC), healthcare epidemiology, and antibiotic stewardship.
This handbook provides a standardized, rigorous framework used by guideline committees to ensure consistency, transparency, and scientific integrity throughout the document development lifecycle. It covers the complete process from initial topic proposal through publication, including systematic literature search and review procedures, evidence classification systems, consensus-building methods, writing panel composition, conflict of interest management, and detailed development timelines.
Originally adapted from established professional society methodology and updated through October 2024, this resource serves as a reference for any organization developing evidence-based infection prevention recommendations.1
Contents:
| Part | Title | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Development Process | Purpose, definitions, proposal process, writing panels, literature review, consensus, and review & approval |
| Part 2 | Document Types, Proposal Forms & Evidence Classification | Document type definitions, expert guidance and consensus statement proposal forms, recommendation terminology, and evidence quality ratings |
| Part 3 | Development Checklists, Author Roles & Inclusive Language | 32-month, 22-month, and 6-month development checklists; review and comment period procedures; writing panel responsibilities; inclusive language guide; and acronyms |
This document is adapted from the methodology and processes described in: Handbook for SHEA-Sponsored Guidelines, Expert Guidance Documents, Consensus Statements, and Practice Statements, Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), September 2024 (updated November 2024). The Clinical Database has rewritten this content in original language for educational and reference purposes. All factual methodology, standard processes (GRADE, Delphi, PICO, PRISMA), and evidence classification frameworks referenced herein are drawn from publicly available, widely adopted scientific standards. Original references and source attributions are preserved throughout. ↩︎
Development checklists (32-month, 22-month, and 6-month timelines), review and comment period procedures, writing panel author responsibilities, inclusive language guide, and acronyms for infection prevention guideline development.
Appendices covering document type definitions with peer review responsibilities, expert guidance and consensus statement proposal forms, recommendation terminology, and evidence quality classifications for infection prevention guideline development.
Purpose, definitions, proposal process, writing panel composition, systematic literature review, consensus methods, and review & approval procedures for infection prevention guideline development.