| (a) A facility must develop, implement, enforce, and
maintain an infection prevention and control program that provides
a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment and helps prevent development
and transmission of disease and infection.
(1) The infection prevention and control program must
include policies and procedures that reduce the risk of spreading
communicable diseases in the facility, including:
(A) wearing personal protective equipment, such as
gloves, a gown, or a mask when called on for anticipated exposure;
(B) properly cleaning hands after using the lavatory,
before and after touching another client, and in between glove changes;
(C) cleaning and disinfecting environmental surfaces,
including doorknobs, handrails, light switches, control panels, and
remote controls;
(D) using universal precautions for blood and bodily
fluids; and
(E) disposing of soiled items (such as used tissues,
wound dressings, incontinence briefs, and soiled linens) from the
environment.
(2) Staff must handle, store, process, and transport
linens to prevent the spread of infection.
(3) If the facility knows or suspects an employee has
contracted a communicable disease that is transmissible to clients
through food handling or direct client care, the facility must exclude
the employee from providing these services for the applicable period
of communicability.
(4) The facility must maintain evidence of compliance
with local and state health codes and ordinances regarding employee
and client health status.
(5) The facility must immediately report the name of
any client with a reportable disease as specified in 25 TAC Chapter
97, Subchapter A (relating to Control of Communicable Diseases), to
the city health officer, county health officer, or health unit director
having jurisdiction, and implement appropriate infection control procedures
as directed by the local health authority.
(b) The facility must comply with rules regarding special
waste in 25 TAC Chapter 1, Subchapter K (relating to Definition, Treatment,
and Disposition of Special Waste from Health Care-Related Facilities).
(c) The facility's infection prevention and control
program must include a policy to minimize the risk for transmission
of tuberculosis (TB). The facility must screen a new employee for
TB within two weeks of employment, according to Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention screening guidelines and any additional guidance
from HHSC.
(1) The facility must provide annual TB education to
employees that must include the following topics:
(A) TB risk factors;
(B) the signs and symptoms of TB disease; and
(C) TB infection control policies and procedures.
(2) The facility may request evidence of compliance
with this requirement from a person who provides services under an
outside resource contract.
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