[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 38, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 38CFR51.190]

[Page 836-837]
 
            TITLE 38--PENSIONS, BONUSES, AND VETERANS' RELIEF
 
          CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (CONTINUED)
 
PART 51--PER DIEM FOR NURSING HOME CARE OF VETERANS IN STATE HOMES--Table 
of Contents
 
                          Subpart D--Standards
 
Sec. 51.190  Infection control.

    The facility management must establish and maintain an infection 
control program designed to provide a safe, sanitary, and comfortable 
environment and to help prevent the development

[[Page 837]]

and transmission of disease and infection.
    (a) Infection control program. The facility management must 
establish an infection control program under which it--
    (1) Investigates, controls, and prevents infections in the facility;
    (2) Decides what procedures, such as isolation, should be applied to 
an individual resident; and
    (3) Maintains a record of incidents and corrective actions related 
to infections.
    (b) Preventing spread of infection. (1) When the infection control 
program determines that a resident needs isolation to prevent the spread 
of infection, the facility management must isolate the resident.
    (2) The facility management must prohibit employees with a 
communicable disease or infected skin lesions from engaging in any 
contact with residents or their environment that would transmit the 
disease.
    (3) The facility management must require staff to wash their hands 
after each direct resident contact for which hand washing is indicated 
by accepted professional practice.
    (c) Linens. Personnel must handle, store, process, and transport 
linens so as to prevent the spread of infection.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 101, 501, 1710, 1741-1743)