State Regulations Governing Infection Control Issues in Long‐Term Care

To examine states' regulations governing infections and infection control in long‐term‐care institutions. Collection and examination of relevant documents from all of the states, the District of Columbia, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations, and Medicare/Medicaid. Rules governing (1) admissions of patients with infections, (2) tuberculin testing of residents, (3) employee health, (4) use of immunizations, (5) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected patients, and (6) infection control were compared. There were wide variations in states' policies in each of these areas and many were inconsistent with current scientific knowledge. Uniform federal standards for long‐term care would probably provide a better and more economical way to ensure quality of care in these institutions.