OAR 333-700-0110: Infection Control

(1) There shall be written policies and procedures in effect for the prevention and control of hepatitis and other infections. These policies must include, but are not limited to: (a) Appropriate procedures for surveillance and reporting of infections; (b) Housekeeping; (c) Handling and disposal of waste and contaminants; (d) Sterilization and disinfection, including the sterilization and maintenance of equipment where dialysis supplies are reused; and (e) The rinsing, cleaning, disinfection, preparation and storage of reused items which conform to requirements for reuse. (2) Dialysis facilities shall follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for preventing transmission of infections. This includes the use of long-sleeved gowns that are impervious to the passage of fluids during procedures at high risk for blood or other bodily fluid contamination (for example, initiation and termination of dialysis and reuse procedures). (3) The medical director shall designate a committee or individual qualified in surveillance, prevention and control of nosocomial infections to be responsible for the direction, provision, and quality of infection prevention and control services. The medical director shall be responsible for ensuring the facility maintains a record of all infections, their incidence, treatment, and outcome. (4) Facilities shall: (a) Have a tuberculosis infection control plan that includes employee assessment and screening for protecting patients and employees from tuberculosis in accordance with OAR 333-019-0041; and (b) Restrict the work of employees with restrictable diseases in accordance with OAR 333-019-0010. (5) Blood spills shall be cleaned immediately or as soon as is practical with an appropriate chemical disinfectant. (6) The facility shall employ appropriate techniques to prevent cross-contamination between the unit and adjacent hospital or public areas including, but not limited to: food service areas; laundry; disposal of solid waste and blood-contaminated equipment; and disposal of contaminants into sewage systems. Waste storage and disposal shall be carried out in accordance with applicable local laws and accepted public health procedures. The written patient care policies shall specify the functions to be carried out by facility personnel and by the self-dialysis patients with respect to contamination prevention. Where dialysis supplies are reused, records shall be maintained that can be used to demonstrate whether established procedures covering the rinsing, cleaning, disinfection, preparation and storage of reused items, conform to requirements for reuse.