WAC 246-337-060   Infection control.  The licensee must ensure each resident's care is provided in an environment that prevents the transmission of infections and communicable disease among residents, staff, and visitors including:

     (1) Implementing and maintaining an infection control program by assignment of responsibility for infection control and monitoring to a specified staff member.

     (2) Maintaining an infection control program that includes adoption and implementation of written policies and procedures for:

     (a) Meeting the standards as outlined in the most recent edition of the department's Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Curriculum Manual, including;

     (i) Hand hygiene;

     (ii) Disinfection;

     (iii) Standard/universal precautions;

     (b) Residents with poor hygiene;

     (c) Control of bloodborne pathogens in accordance with WISHA, chapter 296-823 WAC;

     (d) Control of tuberculosis consistent with WISHA, department guidelines, and chapter 246-170 WAC;

     (e) Exclusion of staff from work who have a communicable disease in an infectious stage; and

     (f) Environmental management and housekeeping functions.

     (3) Ensuring that staff report notifiable conditions and cooperate with public health authorities to facilitate investigation of a case, suspected case, or outbreak of a notifiable condition, consistent with chapter 246-101 WAC.

     (4) Providing the equipment necessary to implement the RTF infection control policies and procedures.

     (5) Complying with chapter 246-100 WAC "Communicable and certain other diseases."



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 71.12 RCW. 05-15-157, § 246-337-060, filed 7/20/05, effective 8/20/05.]