N.J. Admin. Code § 5:27A-16.4

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 23, December 2, 2024

Section 5:27A-16.4 - Employee health and resident policies and procedures for infection prevention and control

(a) Each new employee, including members of the medical staff employed by the facility, upon employment and each resident upon admission shall receive a two-step Mantoux tuberculin skin test with five tuberculin units of purified protein derivative. The only exceptions shall be employees or residents with documented negative two-step Mantoux skin test results (zero to nine millimeters of induration) within the last year, employees or residents with a documented positive Mantoux skin test result (10 or more millimeters of induration), employees or residents who have received appropriate medical treatment for tuberculosis, or when medically contraindicated. Results of the Mantoux tuberculin skin tests administered to new employees or residents shall be acted upon as follows:

1. If the first step of the Mantoux tuberculin skin test result is less than 10 millimeters of induration, the second step of the two-step Mantoux test shall be administered one to three weeks later.

2. If the Mantoux test is significant (10 millimeters or more of induration), a chest x-ray shall be performed and, if necessary, followed by chemoprophylaxis or therapy.

3. Any employee with positive results shall be referred to the employee's personal physician and if active tuberculosis is suspected or diagnosed shall be excluded from work until the physician provides written approval to return.

4. Any resident with positive results shall receive care in accordance with 5:27A-16.2(a)3.

(b) The facility shall have written policies and procedures requiring annual Mantoux tuberculin skin tests for all employees and residents except those exempted under (a) above.

(c) The facility shall report annually the results of all tuberculin testing of personnel and residents, on forms provided by the Department of Health, Division of Epidemiology, Tuberculosis Program.

(d) Employees who have signs or symptoms of a communicable disease shall not be permitted to perform functions that expose residents to risk of transmission of the disease.

(e) If a communicable disease prevents the employee from working for a period of more than three days, a statement from a physician, advanced practice nurse, or physician assistant, approving the employee's return shall be required prior to the employee's return to work.

(f) The facility shall develop and implement procedures for the care of employees who become ill while at work or who have a work-related accident.

(g) The facility shall maintain records documenting communicable diseases contracted by employees during employment.

(h) The facility shall maintain listings of all residents and personnel who have infections, diseases, or conditions that are reportable to the Department of Health pursuant to Chapter II, New Jersey State Sanitary Code, Communicable Diseases, N.J.A.C. 8:57, unless prohibited by Federal or State law.

(i) All residents shall be provided with an opportunity to wash their hands before each meal and shall be encouraged to do so. Staff shall wash their hands before each meal and before assisting residents in eating.

N.J. Admin. Code § 5:27A-16.4

Amended by 49 N.J.R. 3821(a), effective 12/18/2017