Section 144-113-1 - Purpose and DefinitionsA.PurposeThis 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.Definitions1.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.10-144 C.M.R. ch. 113, § 1