SECTION .1800 - INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL

10A NCAC 13F .1801       INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

(a)  In accordance with Rule .1211(a)(4) of this Subchapter and G.S. 131D-4.4A(b)(1), the facility shall establish and implement infection prevention and control policies and procedures consistent with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published guidelines on infection prevention and control. The Department shall approve a set of policies and procedures for infection prevention and control consistent with the federal CDC published guidelines on infection prevention and control that shall be made available on the Division of Health Service Regulation, Adult Care Licensure Section website at https://info.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/acls/acforms.html at no cost. The facility shall either:

(1)           utilize the set of policies and procedures for infection prevention and control approved by the Department;

(2)           develop policies and procedures for infection prevention and control that are consistent with the set of Department approved policies and procedures; or

(3)           develop policies and procedures for infection prevention and control that are based on nationally recognized standards in infection prevention and control that are consistent with the federal CDC published guidelines on infection prevention and control.

(b)  The facility's infection and control policies and procedures shall be implemented by the facility and shall address the following:

(1)           Standard and transmission-based precautions, including:

(A)          respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette;

(B)          environmental cleaning and disinfection;

(C)          reprocessing and disinfection of reusable resident medical equipment;

(D)          hand hygiene;

(E)           accessibility and proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE); and

(F)           types of transmission-based precautions and when each type is indicated, including contact precautions, droplet precautions, and airborne precautions;

(2)           When and how to report to the local health department when there is a suspected or confirmed reportable communicable disease case or condition, or communicable disease outbreak in accordance with Rule .1802 of this Section;

(3)           Measures for the facility to consider taking in the event of a communicable disease outbreak to prevent the spread of illness, such as isolating infected residents; limiting or stopping group activities and communal dining; limiting or restricting outside visitation to the facility; screening staff, residents, and visitors for signs of illness; and use of source control as tolerated by the residents; and

(4)           Strategies for addressing potential staffing issues and ensuring staffing to meet the needs of the residents during a communicable disease outbreak.

(c)  When a communicable disease outbreak has been identified at the facility or there is an emerging infectious disease threat, the facility shall ensure implementation of the facility's infection prevention and control policies and procedures, and when issued, guidance or directives specific to the communicable disease outbreak or emerging infectious disease threat that have been issued in writing by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services or local health department.

(d)  In accordance with Rule .1211 of this Subchapter and G.S. 131D-4.4A(b)(4), the facility shall ensure all staff are trained within 30 days of hire and annually on the policies and procedures listed in Subparagraphs (b)(1) through (b)(2) of this Rule.

(e)  The policies and procedures listed in Paragraph (b) of this Rule shall be maintained in the facility and accessible to staff working at the facility.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 131D-2.16; 131D-4.4A; 143B-165;

Emergency Adoption Eff. October 23, 2020;

Temporary Adoption Eff. December 30, 2020;

Eff. August 23, 2022.