44:75:02:10Infection prevention and control program.

Each facility shall have an active, facility-wide program for the surveillance, prevention, and control of healthcare-associated infections and other infectious disease. The program must demonstrate adherence to nationally recognized infection prevention and control guidelines. Each facility shall, based on recommendations from the facility’s medical and nursing leadership, appoint an infection prevention and control director who is qualified through education, training, experience, or certification in infection prevention and control, to be responsible for the infection prevention and control program including: (1) Developing and implementing policies and procedures for facility-wide infection surveillance, prevention, and control that reflect the scope and complexity of services furnished by the facility and that maintain a clean and sanitary environment; (2) Documenting infection prevention, control, and surveillance activities; (3) Communicating and collaborating with the quality assessment and performance program required by § 44:75:04:14 and the antibiotic stewardship program required by § 44:75:02:10.01 on infection prevention and control issues; (4) Ensuring competency-based training and education is provided to the facility’s healthcare personnel; and (5) Auditing adherence to the facility’s infection prevention and control policies. The governing body of each facility shall ensure systems are in place and operational for the tracking of all infection surveillance, prevention, and control activities to demonstrate implementation, success, and sustainability of activities.

Source: 42 SDR 51, effective October 13, 2015; 50 SDR 62, effective November 27, 2023.