Haw. Code R. § 11-156-4.4 - Interventions for disease prevention and control for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

(a) Source and spread. With only very rare exception, STIs are spread by intimate body contact with infected individuals. To discover the source and possible spread of infection in every case of STI, interviewing of patients and tracing of sexual contacts are fundamental features of a program for control. As the period of communicability varies among the several diseases and can be as much as one year or longer and since the technique for interviewing patients and tracing of their sexual contacts is an exacting one, the physician is urged to utilize the facilities of the department to perform these epidemiologic services. Any person infected with an STI should either disclose to the physician or authorized representative of the director the name, residence, and other identifying characteristic of any person with whom the patient has had sexual contact during the time interval during which the patient had symptoms of disease plus the maximum incubation period possible for that disease and stage, or should bring those individuals forward for diagnosis and treatment.

(b) Prevention of blindness at childbirth. Any physician, midwife, or any other person in attendance in childbirth shall administer prophylaxis for acute infectious conjunctivitis of the newborn within one hour after birth. Acute infectious conjunctivitis of the newborn includes gonorrheal ophthalmia and ophthalmia neonatorum. The prophylaxis for acute infectious conjunctivitis of the newborn shall be one of the following:

(1) One percent silver nitrate in wax ampules administered without saline irrigation or

(2) Ophthalmic ointments containing tetracycline or erythromycin. Other materials may be used only with the written approval by the department and subject to the conditions and restrictions as the department may impose. The department will consider granting a waiver only after the physician has submitted both the reason for the request and appropriate justification for an effective alternative method.

(c) Any person identified as a suspect or contact of a person diagnosed or provisionally diagnosed with an STI should have a medical examination. Any person so electing should immediately have the examination and permit the examining physician to take specimens of blood and bodily discharges for laboratory study. Any person may have the examination conducted at his or her expense by his or her private physician, provided, however, that the extent and completeness of the examination meets with the approval of the director. Medical services for the examination and possible treatment may be provided by the department.

(d) Evaluation and treatment. Any person who suspects he or she has an STI may apply to the department or to the director for medical evaluation and treatment for which he or she may be unable otherwise to pay for or obtain. Medical services may be furnished at places designated by the director.

(e) Laboratory services and STI treatments. Laboratory services for the detection of STI and drugs for treatment of STI may be furnished by the director from available funds to private physicians and institutions, for evaluation and treatment of persons unable to pay for or otherwise obtain such medical services. Any physician or institution receiving such drugs and services may not charge the patient for the same and shall be strictly accountable for their proper use.

Notes

Haw. Code R. § 11-156-4.4

[Eff and comp MAR 13 2008] (Auth: HRS §§ 321-1, 321-9, 325-1, 325-13) (Imp: HRS §§ 321-1, 321-29, 321-31, 321-32, 321-106, 321-29, 321-111, 325-5, 325-36)