(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) “Colonized” means that a pathogen is present on the patient’s body, but is not causing any signs or symptoms of an infection.

(2) “Committee” means the Healthcare Associated Infection Advisory Committee established pursuant to Section 1288.5.

(3) “Health facility” means a facility as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1250.

(4) “Health-care-associated infection,” “health-facility-acquired infection,” or “HAI” means a health-care-associated infection as defined by the National Healthcare Safety Network of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, unless the department adopts a definition consistent with the recommendations of the committee or its successor.

(5) “MRSA” means Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

(b) (1) Each patient who is admitted to a health facility shall be tested for MRSA in the following cases, within 24 hours of admission:

(A) The patient is scheduled for inpatient surgery and has a documented medical condition making the patient susceptible to infection, based either upon federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention findings or the recommendations of the committee or its successor.

(B) It has been documented that the patient has been previously discharged from a general acute care hospital within 30 days prior to the current hospital admission.

(C) The patient will be admitted to an intensive care unit or burn unit of the hospital.

(D) The patient receives inpatient dialysis treatment.

(E) The patient is being transferred from a skilled nursing facility.

(2) The department may interpret this subdivision to take into account the recommendations of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or recommendations of the committee or its successor.

(3) If a patient tests positive for MRSA, the attending physician shall inform the patient or the patient’s representative immediately or as soon as practically possible.

(4) A patient who tests positive for MRSA infection shall, prior to discharge, receive oral and written instruction regarding aftercare and precautions to prevent the spread of the infection to others.

(c) Commencing January 1, 2011, a patient tested in accordance with subdivision (b) and who shows evidence of increased risk of invasive MRSA shall again be tested for MRSA immediately prior to discharge from the facility. This subdivision shall not apply to a patient who has tested positive for MRSA infection or colonization upon entering the facility.

(d) A patient who is tested pursuant to subdivision (c) and who tests positive for MRSA infection shall receive oral and written instructions regarding aftercare and precautions to prevent the spread of the infection to others.

(e) The infection control policy required pursuant to Section 70739 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, at a minimum, shall include all of the following:

(1) Procedures to reduce health care associated infections.

(2) Regular disinfection of all restrooms, countertops, furniture, televisions, telephones, bedding, office equipment, and surfaces in patient rooms, nursing stations, and storage units.

(3) Regular removal of accumulations of bodily fluids and intravenous substances, and cleaning and disinfection of all movable medical equipment, including point-of-care testing devices such as glucometers, and transportable medical devices.

(4) Regular cleaning and disinfection of all surfaces in common areas in the facility such as elevators, meeting rooms, and lounges.

(f) Each facility shall designate an infection control officer who, in conjunction with the hospital infection control committee, shall ensure implementation of the testing and reporting provisions of this section and other hospital infection control efforts. The reports shall be presented to the appropriate committee within the facility for review. The name of the infection control officer shall be made publicly available, upon request.

(g) The department shall establish a health care acquired infection program pursuant to this section.

(Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 296, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2009.)