(1) The nursing home must:

(a) Establish and maintain an effective infection control program designed to provide a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment and to help prevent the development and transmission of disease and infection;

(b) Prohibit any employee with a communicable disease or infected skin lesion from direct contact with residents or their food, if direct contact could transmit the disease; and

(c) Require staff to wash their hands after each direct resident contact for which handwashing is indicated by accepted professional practice.

(2) Under the infection control program, the nursing home must:

(a) Investigate, control and prevent infections in the facility;

(b) Decide what procedures should be applied in individual circumstances; and

(c) Maintain a record of incidence of infection and corrective action taken.

(3) Nursing home personnel must handle, store, process, and transport linens so as to prevent the spread of infection.

(4) The nursing home must develop and implement effective methods for the safe storage, transport and disposal of garbage, refuse and infectious waste, consistent with all applicable local, state, and federal requirements for such disposal.

(5) The nursing home must provide areas, equipment, and supplies to implement an effective infection control program and ensure:

(a) Ready availability of hand cleaning supplies and appropriate drying equipment or material at each sink;

(b) Safe use of disposable and single service supplies and equipment;

(c) Effective procedures for cleaning, disinfecting or sterilizing according to equipment use;

(d) Chemicals and equipment used for cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing, including chemicals used to launder personal clothing, are used in accordance with manufacturer's directions and recommendations; and

(e) Safe and effective procedures for disinfecting:

(i) All bathing and therapy tubs between each resident use; and

(ii) Swimming pools, spas and hot tubs.