3701-17-11. Infection control; tuberculosis control plan

(A) Each nursing home shall establish and implement appropriate written policies and procedures to assure a safe, sanitary and comfortable environment for residents and to control the development and transmission of infections and diseases. Each nursing home shall establish an infection control program to monitor compliance with home's infection control policies and procedures, to investigate, control and prevent infections in the home, and to institute appropriate interventions. The home shall designate an appropriate licensed health professional with competency in infection control to serve as the infection control coordinator.

(B) Each nursing home shall develop and follow a tuberculosis control plan that is based on the home's assessment of the facility. The control and assessment shall be consistent with the United States centers for disease control and prevention "Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of My cobacterium tuberculosis in Health Care Settings, 2005," MMWR 2005, Volume 54, No. RR-17. The home shall retain documentation evidencing compliance with this paragraph and shall furnish such documentation to the director upon request.

(C) If any resident, or individual used by the nursing home, exhibits signs and symptoms of a disease listed in rule 3701-3-02 of the Administrative Code, the nursing home shall ensure that appropriate interventions and follow-up are implemented and shall make reports to the appropriate local public health authority as required by law.

(D) Each nursing home shall use appropriate infection control precautions in caring for all residents. At minimum, individuals working in a nursing home shall:

(1) Wash their hands vigorously with soap and water for at least ten to fifteen seconds or, if hand-washing facilities are not readily available, with an alcohol-based product used according to manufacturer's directions or other alternative methods accepted by the United States centers for disease control and prevention, as being an effective alternative, but not as a substitute for regular hand-washing:

(a) After using the toilet;

(b) Before direct contact with a resident, dispensing medication, or handling food;

(c) Immediately after touching body substances;

(d) After handling potentially contaminated objects;

(e) Between direct contact with different residents; and

(f) After removing gloves.

(2) Place disposable articles contaminated with body substances (other than sharp items) in a container impervious to moisture and manage them in a fashion consistent with Chapter 3734. of the Revised Code. Reusable items contaminated with body substances shall be contained until cleaning and decontamination occurs using products that are approved by the United States food and drug administration;

(3) Wear disposable gloves for contact with any resident's body substances, non-intact skin or mucous membranes. The gloves shall be changed before and after contact with another resident and disposed of in accordance with state law;

(4) Wear an impervious cover gown or other appropriate protective clothing if soiling of clothing with body substances is likely to occur;

(5) Wear a mask and protective goggles or a face shield if splashing of body substances is likely or if a procedure that may create an aerosol is being performed;

(6) Dispose of all hypodermic needles, syringes, scalpel blades and similar sharp wastes by placing them in rigid, tightly closed puncture-resistant containers before they are transported off the premises of the home, in a manner consistent with Chapter 3734. of the Revised Code. The nursing home shall provide instructions to all individuals who use sharps in the home on the proper techniques for disposal; and

(7) Disposable equipment and supplies shall not be re-used.

For the purposes of paragraph (C) of this rule, "body substance" means blood, semen, saliva, vaginal secretions, feces, urine, wound drainage, emesis and any other secretion or excretion of the human body except tears and perspiration.

(E) In addition to following the standard precautions required by paragraph (C) of this rule, nursing homes shall follow the current guidelines for isolation requirements issued by the United States centers for disease control and prevention when caring for a resident known or suspected to be infected with a disease listed in paragraph (A) of rule 3701-3-02 of the Administrative Code. The nursing home shall develop and follow a tuberculosis control plan, based on a facility assessment, which is consistent with current guidelines issued by the centers for disease control and prevention.

(F) The nursing home shall keep clean and soiled laundry separate. Soiled laundry shall be handled as little as possible. Laundry that is wet or soiled with body substances, as defined in paragraph (C) of this rule, shall be placed in impervious bags which are secured to prevent spillage. Individuals performing laundry services shall wear impervious gloves and an impervious gown. Individuals handling soiled or wet laundry on the unit shall wear gloves and, if appropriate, other personal protective equipment. The home shall use laundry cycles according to the washer and detergent manufacturers' recommendations. Protective clothing shall be removed before handling clean laundry.

(G) If the nursing home provides an adult day care program which is located, or shares space, within the same building as the nursing home, shares staff between the program and the home, or where the day care participants at any time intermingle with residents of the home, the requirements of this rule are also applicable to participants of the adult day care program.

Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 08/08/2017 and 08/01/2022
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3721.04
Rule Amplifies: 3721.04
Prior Effective Dates: 11/15/1976, 9/30/88, 12/21/92, 10/20/01, 4/1/12, 12/8/14

Prior History: (Effective: 12/8/2014
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 10/01/2016
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3721.04
Rule Amplifies: 3721.04
Prior Effective Dates: 11/15/1976, 9/30/88, 12/21/92, 10/20/01; 4/1/12)