Section He-P 827.20 - Infection Control(a) The licensee shall develop and implement an infection control program that educates and provides procedures for the prevention, control, and investigation of infectious and communicable diseases.(b) The FMRTF shall appoint an individual who will oversee the development and implementation of the infection control program.(c) The infection control program shall include written procedures for: (1) Proper hand washing techniques;(2) The utilization of universal precautions;(3) The management of patients with infectious or communicable diseases or illnesses;(4) The handling, storage, transportation, and disposal of those items identified as infectious waste in Env-Wm 2604;(5) The reporting of infectious and communicable diseases required by He-P 301;(6) Evaluating and revising the infection control program in accordance with current CDC recommended actions;(7) Maintenance of a sanitary physical environment; and(8) Infection control policies specific to each department.(d) The infection control education program shall be completed by all new employees, all current employees, and all contracted employees on an annual basis and shall address, at a minimum, the: (2) Effects of infections;(3) Transmission of infections; and(4) Prevention and containment of infections.(e) Personnel infected with a disease or illness transmissible through food, formites, or droplets shall not provide direct care in any capacity without personal protection equipment to prevent disease transmission until they are no longer contagious.(f) Personnel infected with scabies or lice shall not provide direct care to patients until such time as they are no longer infected as determined by a licensed practitioner.(g) Pursuant to RSA 141-C:1, personnel with a newly positive TB test or a diagnosis of suspected active pulmonary or laryngeal tuberculosis shall be excluded from the FMRTF until a diagnosis of tuberculosis is excluded, or until the person is receiving tuberculosis treatment and has been determined to be noninfectious by a licensed practitioner.(h) Personnel with an open wound who provide direct care in any capacity shall cover the wound at all times by an impermeable, durable, fitted bandage.(i) If the FMRTF has an incident of an infectious diseases reported in (c) (5) above, the facility shall contact the public health nurse in the county in which the facility is located and follow the instructions and guidance of the nurse.(j) Each licensee caring for patients with infectious or contagious diseases shall have available appropriate isolation accommodations, equipment, rooms, and personnel as specified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings," (June 2007), available as listed in Appendix A.(k) If a licensee offers influenza or pneumococcal immunizations for patients or staff, the licensee shall document the administration of the immunization as applicable, and such report immunization data to the department's immunization program.(l) The FMRTF shall develop and implement a point of care testing policy, if they provide POCT that educates and provides procedures for the proper handling and use of POCT devices, as well as prevention, control, and investigation of infectious and communicable diseases.(m) The licensee shall have available space, supplies, and equipment for proper handling of suspected or actual infectious conditions.(n) The licensee shall have a policy requiring employees to make a report to the infection control officer if the employee suspects that they, another employee, or patient has a communicable disease.N.H. Admin. Code § He-P 827.20
Adopted by Volume XXXIX Number 16, Filed April 18, 2019, Proposed by #12751, Effective 3/26/2019, Expires 3/26/2029.