Kansas Administrative Regulations
Agency 28 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT
Article 39 - LICENSURE OF ADULT CARE HOMES SKILLED NURSING HOMES
Section 28-39-161 - Infection control
Universal Citation: KS Admin Regs 28-39-161
Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 12, March 20, 2024
Each nursing facility shall establish and maintain an infection control program designed to provide a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment for residents and to prevent the development and transmission of disease and infection.
(a) Each facility shall establish an infection control program under which the facility meets the following requirements:
(1)
Prevents, controls, and investigates infections in the facility;
(2) develops and implements policies and
procedures that require all employees to adhere to universal precautions to
prevent the spread of blood-borne infectious diseases based on "universal
precautions for prevention of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus,
hepatitis B virus, and other bloodborne pathogens in health-care settings," as
published in the morbidity and mortality weekly report, June 24, 1988, vol. 37
no. 24 and CDC guidelines for "handwashing and hospital environmental control,"
as published in November 1985, are hereby adopted by reference;
(3) develops and implements policies and
procedures related to isolation of residents with suspected or diagnosed
communicable diseases based on the centers for disease control "guideline for
isolation precautions in hospitals," as published in January 1996, which is
hereby adopted by reference;
(4)
develops policies and procedures related to employee health based on the
centers for disease control "guideline for infection control in hospital
personnel," as published in August 1983, which is hereby adopted by reference;
(5) assures that at least one
private room that is well ventilated and contains a separate toilet facility is
designated for isolation of a resident with an infectious disease requiring a
private room. The facility shall develop a policy for transfer of any resident
occupying the designated private room to allow placement of a resident with an
infectious disease requiring isolation in the private room designated as an
isolation room;
(6) includes in
the orientation of new employees and periodic employees in-service information
on exposure control and infection control in a health care setting; and
(7) maintains a record of
incidents and corrective actions related to infection that is reviewed and
acted upon by the quality assessment and assurance committee.
(b) Preventing the spread of infection.
(1) When a physician or licensed
nurse determines that a resident requires isolation to prevent the spread of
infection, the facility shall isolate the resident according to the policies
and procedures developed.
(2) The
facility shall prohibit employees with a communicable disease or infected skin
lesions from coming in direct contact with residents, any resident's food, or
resident care equipment until the condition is resolved.
(3) Tuberculosis skin testing shall be
administered to each new resident and employee as soon as residency or
employment begins, unless the resident or employee has documentation of a
previous significant reaction. Each facility shall follow the centers for
disease control recommendations for "prevention and control of tuberculosis in
facilities providing long-term care to the elderly," as published in morbidity
and mortality weekly report, July 13, 1990.
(4) Staff shall wash their hands after each
direct resident contact for which handwashing is indicated by the centers for
disease control guideline for "handwashing and hospital environmental control,"
as published in November 1985, which is hereby adopted by reference.
(c) Linens and resident clothing.
(1) The facility shall handle soiled linen
and soiled resident clothing as little as possible and with minimum agitation
to prevent gross microbial contamination of air and of persons handling the
items.
(2) The facility shall
place all soiled linen and resident clothing in bags or in carts immediately at
the location where they were used. The facility shall not sort and pre-rinse
linen and resident clothing in resident-care areas.
(3) The facility shall deposit and transport
linen and resident clothing soiled with blood or body fluids in bags that
prevent leakage.
(4) The facility
shall wash linen with detergent in water of at least 160°F. The facility shall
follow the manufacturers' operating directions for washing equipment.
(5) The facility may choose to
wash linens and soiled resident clothing in water at less than 160°F if the
following conditions are met:
(A) Temperature
sensors and gauges capable of monitoring water temperatures to ensure that the
wash water does not fall below 72°F are installed on each washing machine.
(B) The chemicals used for low
temperature washing emulsify in 70°F water.
(C) The supplier of the chemical specifies
low-temperature wash formulas in writing for the machines used in the facility.
(D) Charts providing specific
information concerning the formulas to be used for each machine are posted in
an area accessible to staff.
(E)
The facility ensures that laundry staff receive in-service training by the
chemical supplier on a routine basis, regarding chemical usage and monitoring
of wash operations.
(F)
Maintenance staff monitors chemical usage and wash water temperatures at least
daily to ensure conformance with the chemical supplier's instructions.
(6) The facility shall
use methods for transport and storing of clean linen that will ensure the
cleanliness of the linens.
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