2. a. Within one month after the effective date of this act, all general hospitals licensed by the Department of Health pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C. 26:2H-1 et al.) shall implement an infection prevention program in their intensive care unit or units, as applicable, and if the hospital has no intensive care unit, then in another high-risk unit such as a surgical unit, or other unit where there is significant risk of facility-acquired infections.

Ultimately, the hospital shall expand the infection prevention program to all areas of the hospital, with the exception of an inpatient psychiatric unit, if applicable. The expansion of the infection prevention program shall be completed as quickly as feasible, taking into account the hospital’s patient population, physical plant, and other facility-specific circumstances.

b. In addition to any other best practices and effective strategies, the hospital shall incorporate the following strategies:

(1) identification and isolation of both colonized and infected patients by screening patients upon admission in order to break the chain of transmission;

(2) contact precautions for patients found to be MRSA positive, as “contact precautions” is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;

(3) patient cultures for MRSA upon discharge or transfer from the unit where the infection prevention program has been implemented, and flagging of patients who are readmitted to the hospital;

(4) strict adherence to hygiene guidelines;

(5) a written infections prevention and control policy with input from frontline caregivers; and

(6) a worker education requirement regarding modes of transmission of MRSA, use of protective equipment, disinfection policies and procedures, and other preventive measures.

c. A general hospital shall report to the Department of Health, in a manner and according to a schedule prescribed by the Commissioner of Health, the number of cases of hospital-acquired MRSA that occur in its facility.

L.2007, c.120, s.2; amended 2012, c.17, s.199.