Section 220. Infection prevention

A. The abortion facility shall have an infection prevention plan that encompasses the entire abortion facility and all services provided, and which is consistent with the provisions of the current edition of "Guide to Infection Prevention in Outpatient Settings: Minimum Expectations for Safe Care," published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An individual with training and expertise in infection prevention shall participate in the development of infection prevention policies and procedures and shall review them to assure they comply with applicable regulations and standards.

1. The process for development, implementation, and maintenance of infection prevention policies and procedures and the regulations or guidance documents on which they are based shall be documented.

2. All infection prevention policies and procedures shall be reviewed at least annually by the administrator and appropriate members of the clinical staff. The annual review process and recommendations for changes/updates shall be documented in writing.

3. A designated person in the abortion facility shall have received training in basic infection prevention, and shall also be involved in the annual review.

B. Written infection prevention policies and procedures shall include, but not be limited to:

1. Procedures for screening incoming patients and visitors for acute infectious illnesses and applying appropriate measures to prevent transmission of community-acquired infection within the abortion facility;

2. Training of all personnel in proper infection prevention techniques;

3. Correct hand-washing technique, including indications for use of soap and water and use of alcohol-based hand rubs;

4. Use of standard precautions;

5. Compliance with bloodborne pathogen requirements of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration;

6. Use of personal protective equipment;

7. Use of safe injection practices;

8. Plans for annual retraining of all personnel in infection prevention methods;

9. Procedures for monitoring staff adherence to recommended infection prevention practices; and

10. Procedures for documenting annual retraining of all staff in recommended infection prevention practices.

C. Written policies and procedures for the management of the abortion facility, equipment, and supplies shall address the following:

1. Access to hand-washing equipment and adequate supplies (e.g., soap, alcohol-based hand rubs, disposable towels or hot air driers);

2. Availability of utility sinks, cleaning supplies, and other materials for cleaning, disposal, storage, and transport of equipment and supplies;

3. Appropriate storage for cleaning agents (e.g., locked cabinets or rooms for chemicals used for cleaning) and product-specific instructions for use of cleaning agents (e.g., dilution, contact time, management of accidental exposures);

4. Procedures for handling, storing, and transporting clean linens, clean/sterile supplies, and equipment;

5. Procedures for handling/temporary storage/transport of soiled linens;

6. Procedures for handling, storing, processing, and transporting regulated medical waste in accordance with applicable regulations;

7. Procedures for the processing of each type of reusable medical equipment between uses on different patients. The procedure shall address: (i) the level of cleaning/disinfection/sterilization to be used for each type of equipment; (ii) the process (e.g., cleaning, chemical disinfection, heat sterilization); and (iii) the method for verifying that the recommended level of disinfection/sterilization has been achieved. The procedure shall reference the manufacturer's recommendations and any applicable state or national infection control guidelines;

8. Procedures for appropriate disposal of nonreusable equipment;

9. Policies and procedures for maintenance/repair of equipment in accordance with manufacturer recommendations;

10. Procedures for cleaning of environmental surfaces with appropriate cleaning products;

11. An effective pest control program, managed in accordance with local health and environmental regulations; and

12. Other infection prevention procedures necessary to prevent/control transmission of an infectious agent in the abortion facility as recommended or required by the department.

D. The abortion facility shall have an employee health program that includes:

1. Access to recommended vaccines;

2. Procedures for assuring that employees with communicable diseases are identified and prevented from work activities that could result in transmission to other personnel or patients;

3. An exposure control plan for bloodborne pathogens;

4. Documentation of screening and immunizations offered/received by employees in accordance with statute, regulation, or recommendations of public health authorities, including documentation of screening for tuberculosis and access to hepatitis B vaccine; and

5. Compliance with requirements of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration for reporting of workplace-associated injuries or exposure to infection.

E. The abortion facility shall develop, implement, and maintain policies and procedures for the following patient education, follow up, and reporting activities:

1. A procedure for surveillance, documentation, and tracking of reported infections; and

2. Policies and procedures for reporting conditions to the local health department in accordance with the Regulations for Disease Reporting and Control (12VAC5-90), including outbreaks of disease.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 29, Issue 19, eff. June 20, 2013.

Statutory Authority

§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-127 of the Code of Virginia.