The HHA must maintain and document an infection control program which has as its goal the prevention and control of infections and communicable diseases.

(a) Standard: Prevention. The HHA must follow accepted standards of practice, including the use of standard precautions, to prevent the transmission of infections and communicable diseases.

(b) Standard: Control. The HHA must maintain a coordinated agency-wide program for the surveillance, identification, prevention, control, and investigation of infectious and communicable diseases that is an integral part of the HHA's quality assessment and performance improvement (QAPI) program. The infection control program must include:

(1) A method for identifying infectious and communicable disease problems; and

(2) A plan for the appropriate actions that are expected to result in improvement and disease prevention.

(c) Standard: Education. The HHA must provide infection control education to staff, patients, and caregiver(s).