NAC449.74473. Program for control of infections.

     1. A facility for skilled nursing shall establish and maintain a program for the control of infections within the facility.

     2. The program must:

     (a) Be designed to provide a safe, sanitary and comfortable environment and to prevent the development and transmission of disease and infection.

     (b) Include procedures for the investigation, control and prevention of infections in the facility.

     (c) Establish the procedures that will be followed if a patient becomes infectious, including, without limitation, the circumstances under which a patient may be isolated. A facility shall isolate any patient if required to prevent the spread of infection.

     (d) Provide for the maintenance of records of infections and the corrective actions taken when infections occurred.

     3. A facility shall ensure that:

     (a) An employee with a communicable disease or an infected skin lesion does not come into direct contact with patients in the facility or their food if such contact may result in the transmission of the disease.

     (b) Employees wash their hands after any direct contact with a patient if required by accepted professional practices.

     4. Linens must be handled, stored, processed and transported in a manner which prevents the spread of infection.

     5. The medical records of each patient in the facility must include documentation that the patient has been tested for tuberculosis in accordance with the provisions of NAC 441A.380.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R051-99, eff. 9-27-99)