Who issued the plan for managing pathogenic biological agents in U.S. Healthcare facilities?

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), now known simply as The Joint Commission, is responsible for setting standards in the healthcare field, including those that pertain to managing pathogenic biological agents. They provide guidelines and frameworks that healthcare facilities must follow to ensure safety and effective management of health risks associated with infectious agents. This includes the development of policies and procedures to minimize risks of exposure to such pathogens, thereby safeguarding both patients and healthcare workers.

While other organizations like OSHA, ASHE, and the FDA play significant roles in health and safety regulations, they do not primarily focus on the overarching management plans for pathogenic biological agents specifically within healthcare settings in the same manner as The Joint Commission. OSHA primarily deals with workplace safety and health regulations, ASHE focuses on health facilities management, and the FDA regulates the safety of food and drugs. Thus, The Joint Commission's role in establishing standards for infection control practices makes it the correct choice in this context.