Iowa Admin. Code r. 481-59.6 - Serial TB screening procedures for health care facilities and hospitals

(1) Health care facilities or hospitals classified as low risk. After establishing baseline TB screening of HCWs, serial TB screening of HCWs is not necessary for health care facilities or hospitals classified as low risk.

(2) Health care facilities or hospitals classified as medium risk.

a. After establishing baseline TB screening, HCWs in health care facilities or hospitals classified as medium risk shall receive serial TB screening annually. However, an HCW with a previous positive TB test result shall only receive annual TB symptom screening in accordance with 59.5(5).

b. An HCW with a baseline positive or new positive test result for M. tuberculosis infection or documentation of previous treatment for LTBI or TB disease shall receive one chest radiograph result to exclude TB disease. Instead of participating in serial testing, HCWs should receive a symptom screen annually. This screen should be accomplished by educating HCWs about symptoms of TB disease and instructing HCWs to report any such symptoms immediately to the occupational health unit. Treatment for LTBI should be considered in accordance with CDC guidelines.

(3) Health care facilities or hospitals classified as potential ongoing transmission. HCWs in facilities or hospitals classified as potential ongoing transmission shall receive serial TB screening every eight to ten weeks until lapses in infection control have been corrected and no additional evidence of ongoing transmission is apparent. However, an HCW with a previous positive TB test result shall only receive TB symptom screening in accordance with 59.5(5). The potential ongoing transmission classification should be used only as a temporary classification. This classification warrants immediate investigation and corrective steps. After a determination that ongoing transmission has ceased, the setting shall be reclassified as medium risk for a minimum of one year.

Notes

Iowa Admin. Code r. 481-59.6

ARC 0484C, lAB 12/12/12, effective 1/16/2013 Amended by IAB August 1, 2018/Volume XLI, Number 3, effective 9/5/2018