44:70:04:10.  Tuberculin screening requirements. Each facility shall develop criteria to screen health care workers or residents for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) based on the guidelines issued by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each facility shall establish policies and procedures for conducting Mycobacterium tuberculosis risk assessment that include the key components of responsibility, surveillance, containment, and education. The frequency of repeat screening shall be determined by the results of the annual TB risk assessment conducted by the facility.

          Tuberculin screening requirements for healthcare workers or residents are as follows:

          (1)  Each new healthcare worker or resident shall receive the two-step method of tuberculin skin or blood assay test to establish a baseline within 14 days of employment or admission to a facility. Any two documented tuberculin skin tests completed within a 12 month period prior to the date of admission or employment shall be considered a two-step. Skin testing is not necessary if a new employee or resident transfers from one licensed healthcare facility to another licensed healthcare facility within the state if the facility received documentation of the last skin testing completed within the prior 12 months. Skin testing is not necessary if documentation is provided of a previous positive reaction. Any new healthcare worker or resident who has a newly recognized positive reaction to the skin or blood assay test shall have a medical evaluation and a chest X-ray to determine the presence or absence of the active disease;

          (2)  A new healthcare worker or resident who provides documentation of a positive reaction to the tuberculin skin or a blood assay test shall have a medical evaluation and chest X-ray to determine the presence or absence of the active disease; and

          (3)  Each healthcare worker or resident with a history of a positive reaction to the tuberculin skin or blood assay test shall be evaluated annually by a physician or a nurse and a record maintained of the presence or absence of symptoms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. If this evaluation results in suspicion of active tuberculosis, the person shall be referred for further medical evaluation to confirm the presence or absence of tuberculosis.

          Source: 38 SDR 115, effective January 9, 2012.

          General Authority: SDCL 34-12-13(1) and (5), 34-22-9(8).

          Law Implemented: SDCL 34-12-13(1) and (5).

          Reference: Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in Health-Care Facilities, 2005. "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report," December 30, 2005 (RR17).