Code of Maine Rules › 10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES › 144 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - GENERAL › Chapter 113 - Regulations Governing the Licensing and Functioning of Assisted Housing Programs (includes Assisted Living Programs, Residential Care Facilities, and Private Non-Medical Institutions) (formerly 10-149 Ch. 113) › Assisted Housing Programs: Infection Prevention and Control › Section 144-113-1 - Purpose and Definitions

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Purpose
This rule establishes minimum standards for infection
					 prevention and control which apply to all types of assisted living programs,
					 residential care facilities and private non-medical institutions, which are
					 governed by 10-144 CMR Chapter 113 (Regulations Governing the Licensing and
					 Functioning of Assisted Housing Program). Facilities governed under this
					 regulation may be required to register as generators of biomedical waste under
					 the provisions of the Department of Environmental Protection rule 06-096 CMR
					 Ch. 900, Biomedical Waste Management Rules.
B.
Definitions
1.
Cohorting
means the practice
				  of grouping residents infected with the same infectious agent together, to
				  confine their care to one area, and prevent contact with susceptible residents.
2.
Exposure
means a
				  specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin, or parenteral
				  contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that results from
				  the performance of an employee's duties.
3.
Infectious disease
(also
				  known as "contagious disease" or "communicable disease") means a disease
				  transmissible by direct contact with an affected individual (e.g., from
				  person-to-person) or the individual's body fluids, or by indirect means (e.g.,
				  contaminated object).
4.
Notifiable disease
means a disease listed in 10-144 CMR Ch. 258,
				  Control of Notifiable Diseases and Conditions Rule.
5.
Novel virus
means a virus
				  that has not previously been recorded.
6.
Outbreak
means the diagnosis
				  of a notifiable disease in any resident, or any employee who has direct care of
				  residents, of an Assisted Living Program, Residential Care Facility or Private
				  Non-Medical Institution governed by 10-144 CMR Chapter 113.
7.
Other Potentially Infectious
				  Material
means the following human body fluids: semen, vaginal
				  secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial
				  fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva in dental procedures, any body
				  fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood, and all body fluids in
				  situations where it is difficult or impossible to differentiate between body
				  fluids.
8.
Personal
				  protective equipment
(PPE) means protective items or garments worn to
				  protect the body or clothing from hazards that can cause injury and to protect
				  residents from cross-transmission.
9.
Respiratory Hygiene/Cough
				  Etiquette
means measures to contain respiratory secretions that are
				  recommended for all individuals with signs/symptoms of a respiratory infection.
10.
Standard
				  Precautions
means infection prevention practices that apply to all
				  residents, regardless of suspected or confirmed diagnosis or presumed infection
				  status, including but not limited to hand hygiene; use of gloves, gown, mask,
				  eye protection, or face shield, depending on the anticipated exposure; safe
				  injection practices; respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette; and the cleaning or
				  disposal of equipment or items in the patient environment likely to have been
				  contaminated with infectious body fluids.
11.
Transmission-based
				  Precautions
means contact precautions, droplet precautions, and airborne
				  precautions, based on the likely routes of transmission of specific infectious
				  agents, which may be combined for infectious agents that have more than one
				  route of transmission.