Health & Saf. Code, § 1288.45

For purposes of this article, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) “Advisory committee” or “HAI-AC” means the Healthcare Associated Infection Advisory Committee established pursuant to Section 1288.5.

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

(c) “Hospital” means a general acute care hospital as defined pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 1250.

(d) “Infection prevention professional” means a registered nurse, medical technologist, or other salaried employee or consultant who, within two years of appointment, will meet the education and experience requirements for certification established by the national Certification Board for Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC), but does not include a physician who is appointed or receives a stipend as the infection prevention and control committee chairperson or hospital epidemiologist.

(e) “MRSA” means methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

(f) “National Healthcare Safety Network” or “NHSN” means a secure, Internet-based system developed and managed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to collect, analyze, and report risk-adjusted HAI data related to the incidence of HAI and the process measures implemented to prevent these infections.

(g) “Program” means the health care infection surveillance, prevention, and control program within the department.