New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules
He - Department of Health and Human Services
Subtitle He-P - Former Division of Public Health Services
Chapter He-P 800 - RESIDENTIAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITY RULES
Part He-P 803 - NEW HAMPSHIRE NURSING HOME RULES
Section He-P 803.23 - Infection Control

Universal Citation: NH Admin Rules He-P 803.23

Current through Register No. 40, October 3, 2024

(a) The licensee shall appoint a person to be in charge of and 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 infection control program shall include documented procedures for:

(1) Proper hand washing techniques;

(2) The utilization of standard precautions, as specified by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings" (June 2007), available as noted in Appendix A;

(3) The management of residents with infectious or contagious diseases or illnesses;

(4) The handling, transport and disposal of those items identified as infectious waste in Env-Sw 103.28;

(5) Reporting of infectious and communicable diseases as required by He-P 301; and

(6) Maintenance of a sanitary physical environment.

(c) The infection control education program shall:

(1) Be completed by all new and current employees of the -licensee on an annual basis; and

(2) Address the:
a. Cause of infections;

b. Effect of infections;

c. Transmission of infections; and

d. Prevention and containment of infections.

(d) Direct care personnel or employees infected with a disease or illness transmissible through food, saliva, fomites or droplets, shall not work in food service or provide direct care without personal protection equipment to prevent disease transmission until they are no longer contagious as determined by a licensed practitioner.

(e) Direct care personnel or employees infected with scabies or lice shall not provide direct care to residents or work in food services until such time as they are no longer infected as determined by a licensed practitioner.

(f) Pursuant to RSA 141-C:1, employees with a newly positive Mantoux tuberculosis skin test or a diagnosis of suspected active pulmonary or laryngeal tuberculosis shall be excluded from the workplace until a diagnosis of tuberculosis is excluded or until the employee is receiving tuberculosis treatment and has been determined to be noninfectious by a licensed practitioner.

(g) Employees with an open wound who work in food service or provide direct care in any capacity shall cover the wound at all times by an impermeable, durable bandage with secure edges.

(h) The licensee shall immunize all consenting residents for influenza and pneumococcal disease and all consenting personnel for influenza in accordance with RSA 151:9-b and report immunization data to the department's immunization program.

#9856-A, eff 1-26-11

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