OAR 411-086-0330: Infection Control and Universal Precautions

(1) Infection Control: (a) The Quality Assurance and Assessment Committee shall establish, maintain and enforce an infection control program, including universal precautions and isolation procedures, which assures protection of residents and staff from infections; (b) The committee shall meet quarterly and as needed to review facility policies, procedures, and monitor staff performance relative to infection control. These meetings and the results thereof shall be documented; (c) In reviewing and developing facility infection control policies and procedures, the committee shall consider all guidelines relative to infection control issued by the Division and by the Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA. (d) Facilities must comply with masking requirements as prescribed in OAR 333-019-1011 or, if applicable, OAR 437-001-0744, to control the spread of COVID-19. (e) Facilities must comply with vaccination requirements for COVID-19 as prescribed in OAR 333-019-1010. Facilities must maintain proof of vaccination or documentation of a medical or religious exemption as required in OAR 333-019-1010(4). (2) Simultaneous Duties. Personnel shall not be simultaneously responsible for duties which are incompatible with sanitation. This includes prohibiting personnel from being assigned to both resident care and work in the kitchen, laundry, or housekeeping. This also prohibits personnel from having responsibility for work in the kitchen combined with laundry, housekeeping or other such conflicting tasks. (3) Communicable Disease. Each nursing facility shall maintain compliance with the Health Division rules for communicable disease, including rules relating to tuberculosis examinations for facility personnel and residents. (4) Soiled Laundry. Soiled linen, toweling, clothing, and sickroom equipment shall not be sorted, laundered, rinsed, or stored in bathroom, kitchen, resident rooms or clean utility areas. Soiled linen, toweling and clothing shall be stored in a separate, ventilated room. Soiled clothing shall be washed separately from soiled linen. Soiled laundry must be transported and stored in a covered container impervious to moisture. (5) Waste Disposal. All garbage, refuse, soiled surgical dressings and other similar wastes shall be disposed of in a manner that will not create a nuisance or a public health hazard and which is consistent with the State Health Division's rules for infectious waste (OAR 333, division 056). When community garbage collections and disposal service are not available, garbage and refuse shall be disposed of by some other equally effective and sanitary manner approved by the local health officer. (6) Clean Linen Storage. All clean linen shall be stored in clean storage rooms or cupboards easily accessible to nursing personnel. Laundry carts used for storing clean linen shall be kept covered when not in use.