(a) A facility must develop, implement, enforce, and maintain an infection prevention and control program that provides a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment and helps prevent development and transmission of disease and infection.
  (1) The infection prevention and control program must include policies and procedures that reduce the risk of spreading communicable diseases in the facility, including:
    (A) wearing personal protective equipment, such as gloves, a gown, or a mask when called on for anticipated exposure;
    (B) properly cleaning hands after using the lavatory, before and after touching another client, and in between glove changes;
    (C) cleaning and disinfecting environmental surfaces, including doorknobs, handrails, light switches, control panels, and remote controls;
    (D) using universal precautions for blood and bodily fluids; and
    (E) disposing of soiled items (such as used tissues, wound dressings, incontinence briefs, and soiled linens) from the environment.
  (2) Staff must handle, store, process, and transport linens to prevent the spread of infection.
  (3) If the facility knows or suspects an employee has contracted a communicable disease that is transmissible to clients through food handling or direct client care, the facility must exclude the employee from providing these services for the applicable period of communicability.
  (4) The facility must maintain evidence of compliance with local and state health codes and ordinances regarding employee and client health status.
  (5) The facility must immediately report the name of any client with a reportable disease as specified in 25 TAC Chapter 97, Subchapter A (relating to Control of Communicable Diseases), to the city health officer, county health officer, or health unit director having jurisdiction, and implement appropriate infection control procedures as directed by the local health authority.
(b) The facility must comply with rules regarding special waste in 25 TAC Chapter 1, Subchapter K (relating to Definition, Treatment, and Disposition of Special Waste from Health Care-Related Facilities).
(c) The facility's infection prevention and control program must include a policy to minimize the risk for transmission of tuberculosis (TB). The facility must screen a new employee for TB within two weeks of employment, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention screening guidelines and any additional guidance from HHSC.
  (1) The facility must provide annual TB education to employees that must include the following topics:
    (A) TB risk factors;
    (B) the signs and symptoms of TB disease; and
    (C) TB infection control policies and procedures.
  (2) The facility may request evidence of compliance with this requirement from a person who provides services under an outside resource contract.

Source Note: The provisions of this §559.63 adopted to be effective July 10, 2024, 49 TexReg 4909