192.131.  Definitions — health care-associated infections data to be reported — confidentiality — plan to help monitoring to be developed — required standards. — 1.  As used in this section, the following terms shall mean:

  (1)   "Antibiogram", a record of the resistance of microbes to various antibiotics;

  (2)  "Antimicrobial", the ability of an agent to destroy or prevent the development of pathogenic action of a microorganism;

  (3)  "Department", the department of health and senior services.

  2.  Every laboratory performing culture and sensitivity testing on humans in Missouri shall submit data on health care associated infections to the department in accordance with this section.  The data to be reported shall be defined by regulation of the department .  Such data may include antibiograms and, not later than July 1, 2005, shall include but not be limited to the number of patients or isolates by hospital, ambulatory surgical center, and other facility or practice setting with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE).

  3.  Information on infections collected pursuant to this section shall be subject to the confidentiality protections of this chapter but shall be available in provider-specific form to appropriate facility and professional licensure authorities.

  4.  The department shall use laboratory and health care provider data provided pursuant to this chapter to create a system to:

  (1)  Enhance the ability of health care providers and the department to track the incidence and distribution of preventable infections, with emphasis on those infections that are most susceptible to interventions and that pose the greatest risk of harm to Missouri residents;

  (2)  Monitor trends in the development of antibiotic-resistant microbes, including but not limited to methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) infections.

  5.  In implementing this section, the department shall conform to guidelines and standards adopted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.