Ala. Admin. Code r. 580-2-20-.05

Infection Control

This regulation requires Alabama Department of Mental Health-licensed entities to develop, maintain, and document a written infection control plan covering staff, recipients, and volunteers. The plan must align with CDC guidelines and include policies on disease transmission prevention, staff training, recipient screening, communicable disease reporting, and HIV/AIDS early intervention services. Additional requirements apply specifically to Mental Illness residential and day programs (training within 10 days of admission) and Substance Use Disorder programs (TB screening, HIV/AIDS/Hepatitis/STD/TB education for all admissions).

Ala. Admin. Code r. 580-2-20-.05 - Infection Control 

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(1)
 The
 entity shall develop, maintain, and document compliance with a written plan for
 exposure control relative to infectious diseases that shall, at a minimum,
 include the following requirements:

(2)

(a)
 The
 plan shall be inclusive of the entity's staff, recipients, and
 volunteers.

(b)
 The plan shall be
 consistent with protocols and guidelines established for infection control in
 healthcare settings by the Federal Center for Disease Control, and shall at a
 minimum include:
1.
 Policies and procedures to
 mitigate the potential for transmission and spread of infectious diseases
 within the agency.

2.
 All staff
 shall be trained in infection control upon hire. Direct care staff shall be
 trained annually thereafter.

3.

 Risk assessment and screening of recipients reporting high risk behavior and
 symptoms of communicable disease.

4.
 Procedures to be followed for recipients
 known to have an infectious disease.

5.
 Provisions to offer directly or by
 referral, as needed, to recipients who voluntarily accept the offer for
 HIV/AIDS early intervention services to include, HIV pre-test and post-test
 counseling and case management and referral services for medical
 care.

6.
 Infection Control training
 shall be provided as follows:
(i)
 Mental
 Illness only: Residential and Day programs within ten (10) days of
 admission.

(ii)
 Substance Use
 Disorders Only: All program recipients within ten (10) days of admission and
 annually thereafter.

7.

 All staff shall be educated annually about TB including risk factors and signs
 and symptoms.

8.
 The entity shall
 document compliance with all laws and regulations regarding reporting of
 communicable diseases to the Alabama Department of Public Health.

9.
 Substance Use Disorder Only: A formal
 process for screening all program admissions for TB.

10.
 Substance Use Disorder Only: The
 provision of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and TB education for all program
 admissions either provided by the agency or by
 referral.

Notes

Ala. Admin. Code
 r. 
580-2-20-.05

Reserved by
 
Alabama
 Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVII, Issue No. 01, October 31,
 2018
, eff. 
11/30/2018
.

Amended by
 
Alabama
 Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVIII, Issue No. 06, March 31,
 2020
, eff. 
5/15/2020
.

Amended by
 
Alabama
 Administrative Monthly Volume XLI, Issue No. 04, January 31,
 2023
, eff. 
3/17/2023
.

Author:
 Division of Mental Health and Substance
 Abuse Services, DMH

Statutory Authority:

Code of Ala.
 1975
, §
 
22-50-11

.

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