Ohio Administrative Code|Rule 4723-20-01 | Definitions pertaining to prevention of disease transmission and infection control.

                                                
For the purposes of this chapter, the following
		definitions shall apply:
(A) "Aseptic technique" means
		  practices used to reduce or eliminate microorganisms.
(B) "Exposure-prone activity"
		  means an activity in which there is a risk of disease transmission by virtue of
		  any of the following:
(1) Direct contact with a
			 disease source that includes:
(a) Airborne transmission or droplet;
(b) Eating or drinking contaminated food or water;
(c) Being bitten by an insect or other disease carrying
				agent;
(2) Invasive
			 procedure;
(3) Any other direct
			 contact with disease source, including bodily contact; or
(4) Contact with
			 contaminated environmental surfaces.
(C) "Hand washing" as that term
		  is used in division (K)(1) of section 4723.07 of the Revised Code is a
		  component of hand hygiene achieved by washing and rinsing hands with
		  non-antimicrobial soap or antimicrobial soap and water, or by using
		  alcohol-based waterless hand sanitizers or other antimicrobial
		  agents.
(D) "Invasive procedure" means
		  any procedure involving manual or instrumental contact with, or entry into, any
		  blood, body fluid, cavity, internal organ, subcutaneous tissue, mucous membrane
		  or percutaneous wound of the human body. If percutaneous injury occurs to a
		  licensee or certificate holder during an exposure-prone activity, the
		  licensee's or certificate holder's blood is likely to contact the
		  patient's body cavity, subcutaneous tissues, or mucous
		  membranes.
(E) "Respiratory hygiene" is an
		  element of standard precautions that requires the licensee or certificate
		  holder to engage in source control practices to control the spread of
		  respiratory infection, including but not limited to:
(1) Covering coughs or
			 sneezes, promptly disposing of used tissues, and performing hand
			 hygiene;
(2) Source control
			 measures, including but not limited to using masks on a coughing patient when
			 tolerated and appropriate; or
(3) Spatial separation of
			 patients and other persons with respiratory infections in common waiting areas
			 when possible.
(F) "Universal and standard
		  precautions" are infection prevention practices that apply to all
		  patients, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status, in any setting
		  in which healthcare is delivered, and include but are not limited to the
		  following:
(1) Practices used to mitigate exposure
			 to disease-causing agents when exposure-prone activity occurs;
(2) Hand hygiene;
(3) Disinfection and sterilization of
			 equipment;
(4) Appropriate handling and disposal of
			 needles and other sharp instruments; and
(5) Appropriate use of personal
			 protective equipment, including wearing and disposal of gloves and other
			 protective barriers or devices.