S.C. Code Regs. § § 61-75.1700.1702

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 9, September 27, 2024

Section 61-75.1700.1702 - Tuberculosis Risk Assessment and Screening. (I)

A. Tuberculosis Testing. The Facility shall utilize either Tuberculin Skin Test or Blood Assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

B. Annual Risk Assessment. The Facility shall conduct an Annual tuberculosis risk assessment in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to guide the Facility's infection control policies and procedures related to the appropriateness and frequency of tuberculosis screening and other tuberculosis related measures to be taken.

C. Symptoms Assessment. The Facility shall conduct an assessment for signs and symptoms of tuberculosis disease for All Staff or Volunteers prior to Participant contact, and maintain documentation of the assessment.

D. Baseline Status. The Facility shall ensure all Staff and Volunteers have a single Blood Assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis or a baseline two-step Tuberculin Skin Test prior to Participant Contact in the following manner:

1. Staff and Volunteers with a documented negative Tuberculin Skin Test or a Blood Assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis result within the previous twelve (12) months may have a Blood Assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis or a single Tuberculin Skin Test administered and read to serve as the baseline prior to Participant contact.

2. Staff or Volunteers without documented negative Tuberculin Skin Test or a Blood Assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis result within the previous twelve (12) months shall have a Blood Assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis or the first step of the two-step Tuberculin Skin Test, administered and read prior to Participant contact, with the administration of the second step seven (7) to twenty (21) calendar days after the first step is read.

E. Positive TB Screening Tests.

1. For all Staff and Volunteers with a history of positive TB screening, the Facility shall secure and maintain documentation of treatment, or, if no documentation is available, consult with and document consultation with the Department's TB Control Program.

2. For all Staff and Volunteers with a newly positive reaction (Positive Reactors) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, the Facility shall secure and maintain documentation of a chest X-ray performed to rule out active disease.

a. If TB is present, the Facility 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 Facility shall educate the Staff member or Volunteer on preventative treatment and document in the individual Staff or Volunteer file his or her decision to receive or decline preventative treatment.

3. The Facility 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 Participants, other Staff and Volunteers, and the community; and

c. Informed of symptoms that suggest the onset of TB and the procedure to follow should such symptoms develop.

F. Post Exposure. After known exposure to a person with potentially infectious tuberculosis disease without the use of adequate personal protection, the Facility 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.

G. Annual Tuberculosis Training. The Facility shall ensure all Staff receive Annual training regarding tuberculosis to include risk factors and signs and symptoms of tuberculosis disease. The Facility shall ensure the Annual tuberculosis training is documented in a Staff record and maintained at the Facility.

H. Serial Screening. The Facility shall follow the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Department tuberculosis guidelines related to serial screening.

S.C. Code Regs. § 61-75.1700.1702

Added by State Register Volume 46, Issue No. 03, eff. 3/25/2022.