§ 68-11-269 — Comprehensive infection control program - Admission or transfer of patients

(a) Health care facilities, as part of their infection control program, shall perform a local risk assessment for methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the facility. In those facilities where current interventions have not resulted in reduction in MRSA infections, implementation of a comprehensive program to reduce such infections should occur. (b) A health care facility's comprehensive infection control program may include, but is not limited to: (1) Implementation of a hand hygiene education and monitoring program; (2) The use of contact precautions for patients colonized or infected with MRSA; (3) The effective cleaning of patient care equipment and the patients' environment; (4) Consideration of use of active surveillance testing for high risk groups identified through a facility's local risk assessment to identify persons colonized with MRSA; (5) Feedback of surveillance data to key stakeholders, including senior facility leadership, physicians, nursing staff and other clinicians; (6) Education of healthcare personnel about epidemiologically significant organisms; and (7) Education of patients and families about prevention of healthcare-associated infections. (c) Hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities should communicate MRSA status of patients transferred or admitted to other facilities; however, facilities should not delay the admission or transfer of patients colonized with MRSA.

Legislative History

Acts 2008, ch. 999, § 1.