Objective:

To reduce morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases in institutions, day care centres andpersonal service settings.

Requirements and Standards:

1. The board of health shall ensure appropriate input to hospital infection control programs in the healthunit. This shall include as a minimum:

1. representation of the medical officer of health or designate on each hospital infection controlcommittee;
2. reporting of designated communicable diseases from hospitals, including emergency rooms andoutpatient clinics, to the medical officer of health as required under the provisions of the HealthProtection and Promotion Act;
3. consultation with the hospital infection control committee on the development and revision ofinfection control policies and procedures and an outbreak contingency plan;
4. providing advice when requested or when needed for the appropriate management ofcommunicable diseases and infection control;
5. providing epidemiological information as needed regarding communicable diseases existingwithin the community and other institutions; andf.collaboration or assistance in annual in-service education for hospital staff about communicablediseases.

2. The board of health shall ensure that infection control programs are in place in all nursing homes andhomes for the aged.  Activities shall include as a minimum:

1. representation on infection control committees;
2. ensuring that all nursing homes and homes for the aged designate a registered nurse or registeredmedical laboratory technologist to be responsible for infection control programs in the facility, inaccordance with the Long Term Care Facility Program Manual;
3. ongoing consultation about a surveillance program to include the collection, analysis andappropriate management of nosocomial infections;
4. consultation on the development and revision of infection control policies;
5. development, in collaboration with the institution, an outbreak contingency plan consistent with good public health practices;
6. informing the institution about required reporting of designated communicable diseases andoutbreaks of diseases to the medical officer of health as required under the provisions of the Health Protection and Promotion Act;
7. annual promotion of influenza vaccination to staff; and
8. ensuring the provision of annual in-service education for staff on infectious diseases.

3. The board of health shall ensure an annual inspection of :

1. boarding houses and lodging houses with five or more residents;
2. migrant farm workers’ housing;
3. residential facilities for the aged;
4. homes for retarded persons; and
5. homes for special care, to ensure the existence of safe drinking water, safe food and sanitary facilities.  Additional inspections shall be conducted when the requirements in Ontario Regulation 562 are not met.

4.The board of health shall ensure that infection control programs are in place in day nurseries. Activities shall include as a minimum:

1. consultation on the development of infection control policies and procedures such as handwashing, daily observation of children, immunization, health evaluation of children and staff andcommunication with parents;
2. inspection of premises at least twice a year to include diaper routines and general housekeepingpractices and to ensure existence of safe drinking water, safe food and sanitary facilities;
3. ensuring the creation of a written policy on the management of infectious communicable diseases,exclusion of sick children and the reporting of designated diseases to the medical officer of healthas required under the provisions of the Health Protection and Promotion Act; and
4. provision of annual in-service education in basic infection control for all staff providing directcare, consistent with generally-accepted infection control standards.

5. The board of health shall ensure that infection prevention practices as defined in the Ministry ofHealth Infection Control in Personal Services Settings Protocol (January, 1998) are in place insettings where there is a risk of exposure to blood, such as, but not limited to, hairdresser and barbershops, tattoo and body piercing studios, electrolysis and aesthetic clinics.