The law requires that nursing homes must have an organized infection control program that prevents diseases and infections from developing and spreading. This means that nursing homes must:
- Investigate, control and prevent infections in the facility;
- Screen residents and employees for tuberculosis;
- Decide what procedures should be applied to an individual resident;
- Isolate residents only to the degree needed to isolate infecting organisms, using the least restrictive method possible;
- Require staff members to wash their hands after each direct contact with a resident;
- Prohibit employees who have communicable diseases or infected skin conditions from having direct contact with residents or their food;
- Handle, store, process and transport linens in a way that prevents the spread of infections;
- Clean and disinfect contaminated articles and surfaces; and
- Maintain a record of infections and corrective actions.
- Report to local and state health official cases of communicable disease and outbreaks of infectious or parasitic diseases or infestation.
