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D.C. Municipal Regulations (Last Updated: September 13, 2017) |
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Title 22. HEALTH |
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SubTilte 22-B. PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEDICINE |
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Chapter 22-B20. HOSPITALS |
Section 22-B2038. MRSA INFECTION PREVENTION
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2038.1Each hospital shall have written infection prevention and control policies and procedures.
2038.2Each hospital shall identify MRSA colonized patients in an intensive care unit or other at-risk unit.
2038.3Each patient colonized or infected with MRSA shall be isolated in an appropriate manner consistent with guidelines for best practices. A patient in a long-term care facility who is infected or colonized shall be permitted to participate in group activities provided that any draining wounds are covered, bodily fluids are contained, and the patient is observed to have proper hygiene practices.
2038.4Each hospital shall adhere to hand hygiene best practices to ensure, through education and monitoring, that healthcare personnel properly cleanse hands between patient care activities.
2038.5Each hospital shall monitor trends in the incidence of MRSA in the hospital over time and enhance infection control interventions if rates do not decrease.
2038.6Each hospital shall maintain a mechanism for identifying a MRSA patient who is readmitted to the hospital (i.e. flagging).
2038.7Each hospital shall have a worker education requirement regarding modes of transmission, use of personal protective equipment, disinfection policies and procedures, and other preventive measures in accordance with current CDC guidelines on the use of “Standard Precautions” and “Transmission-Based Precautions”.
2038.99When used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed:
Colonized - having a bacterial organism present on or in the body that is not causing illness.
Long-term care facility - a component of a hospital intended for the treatment of patients who require extended stays in a hospital setting to complete their treatment.
Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) - a bacterium that is resistant to antibiotics known as beta-lactams. These antibiotics include methicillin, amoxicillin, oxacillin, and penicillin.