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 809 - HOME HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
Section He-P 809.19 - Infection Control and Sanitation

(a) The HHCP 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 infection control program shall include written procedures for:

(c) The infection control education program shall address at a minimum the:

(e) Personnel infected with a disease or illness transmissible through food, fomites, or droplets, shall not prepare food or provide direct care in any capacity until they are no longer contagious unless they utilize appropriate infection control equipment as required by the facility's policy and procedures on infection control.

(f) Pursuant to RSA 141-C:1, personnel 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 person is on tuberculosis treatment and has been determined to be non-infectious by a licensed practitioner.

(g) Personnel with an open wound who prepares food or provides direct care in any capacity shall cover such wound at all times by an impermeable, durable, tight-fitting bandage.

(h) Personnel infected with scabies or lice/pediculosis shall not provide direct care to patients or prepare food until such time as they are no longer infected.

(i) If the HHCP has an incident of an infectious disease reported in (b) (5) above, the HHCP shall contact the public health nurse in the county in which the patient resides and follow the instructions and guidance of the nurse.

(j) Sterile supplies and equipment shall:

(k) If the HHCP has soiled items at its licensed premises, they shall be disposed of according to the facility's infection control policies.

(l) If equipment needs to be cleaned in order to prevent contamination, the HHCP shall develop and maintain written procedures for safe and effective cleaning of the equipment.

(m) The HHCP 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.

(n) The HHCP shall not re-use any equipment or supplies that require sterilization.