NAC441A.455. Amebiasis.

     1. The health authority shall investigate each report of a case having amebiasis to confirm the diagnosis, to identify any contacts, to identify the source of infection, to determine if the case is employed in a sensitive occupation or is a child attending a child care facility and to determine if there is any contact residing in the same household as the case who is employed in a sensitive occupation.

     2. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a person excreting Entamoeba histolytica shall not work in a sensitive occupation unless authorized to do so by the health authority. A person excreting Entamoeba histolytica may work in a sensitive occupation if:

     (a) An effective antiparasitic regimen has been completed by the person and has been confirmed by his or her health care provider;

     (b) Three fecal specimens that are collected from the person at least 24 hours apart and at least 48 hours after cessation of antiparasitic therapy fail to show Entamoeba histolytica organisms upon testing by a medical laboratory or the person receives a negative result on an antigen test that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States Department of Health and Human Services for the detection of Entamoeba histolytica; or

     (c) The person is asymptomatic and there is no indication of poor personal hygiene.

     3. A symptomatic contact residing in the same household as the case having amebiasis shall not work in a sensitive occupation until at least one fecal specimen is submitted for examination. If the specimen shows Entamoeba histolytica upon testing by a medical laboratory, the contact is deemed a case subject to the provisions of this section.

     4. The health authority shall instruct a person excreting Entamoeba histolytica of the need and proper method of hand washing after defecation.

     5. An infant or child who is excreting Entamoeba histolytica shall not attend a child care facility until asymptomatic. The health authority shall instruct a child care facility where an infant or child excreting Entamoeba histolytica is attending of the need and proper method of hand washing and other practices for the control of infection which prevent the transmission of amebiasis.

     6. If a case having amebiasis is in a medical facility, the medical facility shall provide care to the case in accordance with enteric precautions or other appropriate disease specific precautions.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health, eff. 1-24-92; A by R087-08, 1-13-2011)