6103:01

Policy #: 6103:01

Subject: Infectious Disease Policy & Procedure

Section: Personnel (6100-6199)

Effective: 1993

 

 

PURPOSE: To provide a safe and healthy environment for faculty, staff, students, and visitors.

 

 

It is the stated policy of the Maine Community College System to provide a safe and healthy environment for faculty, staff, students, and visitors. In the normal course of the day-to-day activities of the Community Colleges, large groups of people of diverse backgrounds are brought together. Also, students in the various health programs have the potential for direct contact with clients with infectious diseases as part of their clinical education.

 

The following policy has been developed to achieve consistency and to foster a safe and healthy environment for all those who work, study, and visit in the Maine Community College System.

 

NOTE: This policy is based upon current medical and scientific evidence, including guidelines published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). As this information is modified and clarified, the policy may be subject to change and revision.

 

A. Potential High-risk Individuals

 

The following people have been identified as potential high-risk individuals in priority order – A – highest, etc.

 

A clinical instructors of health care programs and their students

 

A school nurses and their assistants

 

B shop/lab instructors and their students

 

B food service workers

 

B students and faculty of culinary arts programs

 

B custodians, maintenance, security staff

 

C resident hall directors and their assistants

 

C athletic coaches and participants

 

B. Immunization/Tests

 

The following immunizations and tests are required for the individuals in category A above:

 

 

These immunizations are to be provided to employees identified in category A at the Maine Community College System’s expense.

 

Employees who refuse vaccination will sign a waiver releasing the Maine Community College System of any responsibility related to contracting a work related infectious disease.

 

C. In-service Education

 

Education for student of health programs, with respect to infection control, will be provided within the curriculum of their individual programs.

 

All other students and employees will receive in-service education designed by the individual college. This education might include but is not limited to the following: information on infectious disease, its transmission and prevention. This information will be provided to all employees and students.

 

In-service education shall be monitored by the Maine Community College System Ad Hoc Committee on Infectious Disease Policy.

 

D. Administrative Responsibility

 

Each college president will appoint an infection control coordinator who will be responsible for providing in-service training and updating employees with new information. This coordinator will follow-up and document all exposure incidents. Department heads will verify their employees’ compliance with in-service education.

 

E. Related Policy Statements

 

1. Students in all health programs will master the principles of infection control and their application (e.g., universal precautions) in the classroom and laboratory setting prior to caring for any client in the clinical setting. These principles of infection control include those related to client contact and the proper use and disposal of equipment and supplies. This mastery will be evidenced by: a). obtaining a grade of C or better in a written examination about the principles of infection control and b). by successfully applying the principles in the laboratory setting with 100% accuracy (having met all critical elements) for this procedure.

 

2. Once the student has shown mastery of these principles in the classroom and the laboratory, he/she will be expected to care for clients with any infectious disease in the clinical setting with close supervision.

 

3. Students in all health programs are expected to care for clients with any infectious disease. If a student, without any pre-existing condition (see #6 below), refuses to care for a client, counseling will be provided regarding concerns and career goals. If after counseling the student still refuses to care for such a client, he/she will be dismissed from the program.

 

4. Faculty members in all health programs will serve as positive role models in the care of clients with infectious disease by striving to increase and improve his/her knowledge and skill and to render to each client the full measure of his/her ability. All care shall be provided with respect for the dignity of the client, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of the health programs.

 

5. Students will be provided with supplies necessary to meet CDC guidelines at affiliating agencies.

 

6. Students who are pregnant, or believe they may be immunocompromised or exhibit a diagnosed skin condition must inform their immediate Maine Community College System health care supervisor of this fact, and if the facts of the particular case warrant, they will not be assigned to care for clients who have transmissible infections. Students will be counseled accordingly.

 

7. Students and faculty with asymptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) will be allowed to perform direct client care in accordance with the affiliating facility’s guidelines and policies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM

 

INFECTIOUS DISEASE POLICY

 

PROCEDURES

 

 

PURPOSE: To establish a procedure to effectively reduce and manage occupational exposures to infectious diseases.

 

1. Clean-up Policy for Exposure to Blood & Body Fluids

a. Gloves are ALWAYS worn.

b. Wash contaminated areas with a germicidal/tuberculocidal agent.

c. Wash hands thoroughly after removal of gloves.

 

2. Exposure Incidents – If a student, faculty member, staff member or visitor is potentially exposed to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), the following procedure is to be followed:

a. If a health care worker has a percutaneous (needle-stick or cut) or mucous membrane (splash to eye, nasal mucosa, or mouth) exposure to body fluids or has a cutaneous exposure to blood when the worker’s skin is chapped abraded, or other non-intact, the source patient shall be informed of the incident and tested for HIV and HBV infections, after consent is obtained (OSHA CPL 2-2.44B). The exposed person will also be tested. The campus President’s Office should be contacted for the testing procedure.

b. If patient consent is refused or if the source patient is currently documented to be HIV positive or subsequently tests HIV positive, the worker shall be evaluated clinically and by HIV antibody testing as soon as possible and advised to report and seek medical evaluation of any acute febrile illness that occurs within 12 weeks after exposure. In addition, Maine Community College System will begin treatment of the worker with azidothymidine (AZT) with the worker’s consent, as soon as possible after the exposure incident. HIV sero0negative workers shall be retested 6 weeks post-exposure and on a periodic basis thereafter (12 weeks and 6 months after exposures). (OSHA CPL 2-2.44B). If there is any difficulty with this procedure, please contact the President at your individual campus.

c. Follow-up procedures shall be taken for health care workers exposed or potentially exposed to HBV. The types of procedures depend on the immunization status of the workers (i.e., whether HBV vaccination has been received and antibody response is adequate) and the HBV serologic status of the source patient. (OSHA CPL 2-2.44B)

d. Note: “health care worker” also means faculty/staff member or student or visitor.

e. Maine Community College System Policy 410 will be followed in dealing with records of accidental exposure, confidentiality, mandatory screening, and referral sources.

 

3. Precautions for Food Service Employees and Culinary Arts Program Students and Faculty

a. Any Maine Community College System Food Service Employee or Culinary Arts student or faculty member who has a skin cut or abrasion on the hand, or who is wearing a band aid or other bandage on the hand for any reason, and who is likely to come into contact with food, must also wear appropriate gloves.

 

4. Procedures for HIV Testing

a. The exposed student/employee is counseled PRIOR to the testing by a designated campus health care provider.

b. The pre-test checklist is completed.

c. The informed consent form is signed by the student/employee and the campus health care provider.

d. A blood sample is drawn by the campus health care provider; Kit from:

Health & Environmental Testing

221 State Street, Station 12

Augusta, Maine 04333

There is a $15.00 fee for each Kit; no further payment is needed for the testing.

e. Indicated on the form in the Kit to whom the results are to be sent.

f. Post-test counseling is to be done by the campus health care provider after the test results have been received. Complete the post-test checklist.

g. Test results are kept by the campus health care provider separate from the student/employee record in compliance with Maine law. No one else is to have access to this file.