S.C. Code Regs. § § 61-77.1700.1702

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 10, October 25, 2024

Section 61-77.1700.1702 - Tuberculosis Risk Assessment and Screening (I)

A. Tuberculosis (TB) Testing. The Home Health Agency shall utilize either Tuberculin Skin Test or Blood Assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (BAMT) for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

B. The Home Health Agency shall conduct an annual tuberculosis risk assessment in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

C. Baseline Status.

1. The Home Health Agency shall determine the baseline status of all Staff according to current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Department tuberculosis guidelines.

2. Tuberculosis Screening. All Staff within three (3) months prior to Patient contact shall have a baseline two-step Tuberculin Skin Test or a single Blood Assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. If a new Staff member has had a documented negative Tuberculin Skin Test or a Blood Assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis result within the previous twelve (12) months, a single Tuberculin Skin Test or the single Blood Assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis may be administered and read to serve as the baseline prior to Patient contact.

D. Positive TB Screening Tests.

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

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

a. If TB is present, the Home Health Agency 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 Home Health Agency shall educate him or her on preventative treatment and document in the individual Staff file his or her decision to receive or decline preventative treatment.

3. The Home Health Agency 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 Patients, other Staff members, and the community; and

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

E. Post Exposure. After known exposure to a person with potentially infectious tuberculosis disease without the use of adequate personal protection, the Home Health Agency 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.

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

G. Serial Screening. The Home Health Agency shall follow the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Department tuberculosis guidelines related to serial screening.

S.C. Code Regs. § 61-77.1700.1702

Added by State Register Volume 46, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/27/2022.