Infection control

The hospital shall have a hospitalwide program for the surveillance, prevention, and control of infections consistent with the occupational safety and health administration and centers for disease control standards regulations specific to infection control. 1. The general acute hospital shall establish and implement an infection control program that is responsible for the infection surveillance, prevention, and control in the hospital. a. The responsibilities of the program include: (1) The establishment of a written infection control plan that includes the use of aseptic techniques, universal precautions, and appropriate procedures for each department or service. (2) The establishment of policies and procedures for reporting, surveillance, monitoring, and documentation of infections and the development and implementation of systems used to collect and analyze data and activities to prevent and control infections. (3) Ensuring the assignment of the responsibility for the management of infection surveillance, prevention, and control to a qualified individual or individuals. b. Written documentation of the activities of the infection control program must be prepared and reported through established channels. c. There must be procedures available for the immediate isolation of all patients in whom infectious conditions or other conditions that jeopardize the safety of the patient or other patients are thought to exist. d. There must be inspections and cleaning of air-intake sources, screens, and filters at a frequency consistent with manufacturer's recommendations and hospital policies. e. Proper facilities must be maintained and appropriate procedures used for disposal of all infectious and other wastes. 2. A primary care hospital is subject to the infection control requirements for general acute hospitals in this section. 3. Specialized hospitals are subject to the infection control requirements for general acute hospitals in this section.