Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 17, § 2564 - Diarrhea of the Newborn

(a) Any infant under 1 month of age in a hospital or institution, or any infant hospitalized because of prematurity, who has two or more watery or otherwise apparently abnormal stools within a 24-hour period, with or without other signs of illness, shall be considered a suspicious case of diarrhea of the newborn and immediately isolated. Any newborn, who within four days after discharge from a hospital has two or more watery or otherwise apparently abnormal stools within a 24-hour period, with or without other signs of illness, shall be considered a suspicious case and kept under close observation. If the diarrhea continues for more than two days the infant shall be immediately reported as a case of diarrhea of the newborn to the local health officer by telephone or other equally prompt means. An exception may be made in the case of entirely breastfed infants who show no signs of illness and are gaining weight.

(b) Isolation of Case. The case shall be placed in strict isolation until discharged from the hospital.

(c) Quarantine of Infants in Nursery. If two or more cases occur, all infants in the nursery shall be quarantined and no infants shall be admitted until all exposed infants have been discharged and the nursery thoroughly cleaned, and personnel, equipment, and procedures involved have been investigated by the health officer and found adequate.

(d) Care of Noncontacts. Infants born subsequent to quarantine of infants in the newborn nursery for diarrhea of the newborn shall be cared for in a separate clean newborn nursery by a separate nursing staff.

(e) Closure of Hospital to Maternity Admissions. If cases of diarrhea of the newborn as defined above occur also in the temporary clean nursery, the hospital shall be closed to maternity admissions until all cases and contacts are discharged and all nursery rooms and equipment thoroughly cleaned.

Notes

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 17, § 2564

1. Amendment filed 5-24-55; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 55, No. 8).

1. Amendment filed 5-24-55; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 55, No. 8).