Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 9, September 27, 2024
A. Tuberculosis (TB) Testing. The Home Health
Agency shall utilize either Tuberculin Skin Test or Blood Assay for Mycobacterium
tuberculosis (BAMT) for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
B. The Home Health Agency shall conduct an annual
tuberculosis risk assessment in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention guidelines.
C. Baseline
Status.
1. The Home Health Agency shall determine
the baseline status of all Staff according to current Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention and Department tuberculosis guidelines.
2. Tuberculosis Screening. All Staff within three
(3) months prior to Patient contact shall have a baseline two-step Tuberculin Skin
Test or a single Blood Assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. If a new Staff member
has had a documented negative Tuberculin Skin Test or a Blood Assay for
Mycobacterium tuberculosis result within the previous twelve (12) months, a single
Tuberculin Skin Test or the single Blood Assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis may be
administered and read to serve as the baseline prior to Patient contact.
D. Positive TB Screening Tests.
1. For all Staff with a history of positive TB
screening, the Home Health Agency shall secure and maintain documentation of
treatment, or if no documentation is available consult with and document
consultation with the Department's TB Control.
2. For all Staff with a newly positive reaction
(Positive Reactors) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, the Home Health Agency
shall secure and maintain documentation of a chest X-ray performed to rule out
active disease.
a. If TB is present, the Home
Health Agency shall report any known or suspected cases of TB disease to the
Department's Bureau of Communicable Disease Prevention and Control in a form and
manner as prescribed by the Department within twenty-four (24) hours and exclude the
Staff member from work until he or she is evaluated by the Department's TB Control
Program.
b. Latent TB Infection (LTBI).
For new positive reactors without TB disease, as determined by a normal chest X-ray,
the Home Health Agency shall educate him or her on preventative treatment and
document in the individual Staff file his or her decision to receive or decline
preventative treatment.
3.
The Home Health Agency shall maintain documentation that the Positive Reactor who
declines preventive treatment is:
a. Assessed
annually for signs and symptoms of TB;
b. Advised of the lifelong risk of developing and
transmitting TB to Patients, other Staff members, and the community; and
c. Informed of symptoms that suggest the onset of
TB and the procedure to follow should such symptoms develop.
E. Post Exposure. After known exposure
to a person with potentially infectious tuberculosis disease without the use of
adequate personal protection, the Home Health Agency shall ensure the tuberculosis
status of all Staff is determined in a manner prescribed in the current Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention and Department tuberculosis guidelines.
F. Annual Tuberculosis Training. The Home Health
Agency shall ensure all Staff receive annual training regarding tuberculosis to
include risk factors and signs and symptoms of tuberculosis disease. The Home Health
Agency shall ensure the annual tuberculosis training is documented in a Staff record
and maintained at the Agency.
G. Serial
Screening. The Home Health Agency shall follow the current Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and Department tuberculosis guidelines related to serial
screening.
