1202-B - Making an Old Healthcare-associated Infections' Law New Again

Session Description: In 2009, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was the most high-profile antibiotic resistant infection affecting hospitals. It captured the attention of infection preventionists and politicians. This resulted in new MRSA-specific state laws, including infection control and reporting law for hospitals in Washington State. Over the years, concerns for other epidemiologically-significant pathogens grew. We realized that the statute’s singular infection focus was limiting and required infection preventionists to endorse policies that did not align with the most current evidence. In 2021, the state health department partnered with the hospital association and local APIC chapter to advocate for legislative change. Our efforts led to a modernized state statute for the prevention and control of the transmission of pathogens of epidemiological concern. The revitalized statute includes evidence-based infection prevention practices and a risk assessment approach, which are both foundational for infection prevention programs. This presentation will provide Washington State’s story of modernizing an outdated MRSA law. The presenter will review the challenges faced, share the approaches that were most successful, and describe the importance of advocating for legislative changes in infection prevention.