Subsection 3: Combating nosocomial infections.

The healthcare agency organises the fight against nosocomial infections, including the prevention of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. To this end, it sets up a nosocomial infection control committee and defines an annual programme of actions designed to ensure : 1° Preventing nosocomial infections, in particular by drawing up and implementing recommendations for good hygiene practice; 2° Monitoring nosocomial infections; 3° Defining information and training initiatives for all the Agency’s professionals…

The Nosocomial Infection Control Committee : 1° Coordinates the action of the Agency’s professionals in the fields mentioned in Article D. 6431-66; 2° Each year, together with the hospital hygiene operational team, prepares the action programme to combat nosocomial infections; 3° Draws up the annual activity report on the fight against nosocomial infections; this activity report may be consulted on site on request. As part of its remit, the committee…

The action programme and the activity report are submitted to the Agency’s Medical Committee for its opinion. After deliberation by the Board of Directors, the action programme and activity report are forwarded to the Agency’s Health, Safety and Working Conditions Committee. The agency’s hospital project, provided for in 1 of article L. 6431-4, defines the general objectives in terms of the fight against nosocomial infections.

The nosocomial infection control committee has a maximum of eight members. This committee comprises : 1° The Chairman of the Agency’s Medical Commission or his representative, appointed by him from this body; 2° The Director of the Agency, or the person designated by him; 3° The doctor responsible for occupational medicine in the agency; 4° The manager responsible for nursing care; 5° The pharmacist in charge mentioned in article D….

The Committee elects, by a simple majority of its members, a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman from among its members who are doctors or pharmacists working at least six half-days a week. The term of office of the members ends at the same time as the duties in respect of which they have been appointed. The term of office of the members mentioned in 6°, 7° and 8° of article D….

The committee meets at least twice a year. In the event of a tie, the Chairman has the casting vote. The Committee may hear any competent person, whether or not belonging to the Agency, on the issues on the agenda.

The Agency shall set up a hospital hygiene operational team comprising staff, in particular medical or pharmaceutical staff and nurses, who it is necessary to assign, for all or part of their professional activity, to the implementation of measures to combat nosocomial infections. This staff undergoes training appropriate to their duties.

Members of the Hospital Infection Control Committee and the Hospital Hygiene Operational Team have access to the information and data they need to carry out their duties.

The medical commission provided for in article L. 6431-13 participates, through its opinions, in defining the medicinal products and medical devices policy within the health agency, in particular in drawing up the list of medicinal products and medical devices whose use is recommended, as well as recommendations regarding the prescription and proper use of these health products.

The only medical devices that may be used by the Agency, dispensed by the pharmacy and included on the list provided for in Article D. 6431-74 are those that have received the certification of conformity required for their marketing in mainland France. Medicinal products or medical devices that have been suspended or banned in mainland France may not be used by the Agency or dispensed by the pharmacy.