NAC441A.505. Cryptosporidiosis.

     1. The health authority shall investigate each report of a case having cryptosporidiosis, identified by the detection of oocysts in fecal smears or of the life cycle stages of the parasites in intestinal biopsy specimens upon testing by a medical laboratory, to:

     (a) Confirm the diagnosis;

     (b) Identify any contacts;

     (c) Identify the source of infection;

     (d) Determine if the case is employed in a sensitive occupation or is a child attending a child care facility; and

     (e) Determine if there is a contact residing in the same household as the case who is employed in a sensitive occupation.

     2. A person excreting Cryptosporidium spp. shall not work in a sensitive occupation unless authorized to do so by the health authority. The health authority may authorize the case to work in a sensitive occupation if:

     (a) Two fecal specimens, collected from the case at least 24 hours apart, fail to show Cryptosporidium spp. organisms upon testing by a medical laboratory; or

     (b) The case is asymptomatic and there is no indication of poor personal hygiene.

     3. A symptomatic contact residing in the same household as a case shall not work in a sensitive occupation until at least one fecal specimen has been submitted for examination. If the specimen shows Cryptosporidium spp. upon testing by a medical laboratory, the contact shall be considered a case subject to the provisions of this section.

     4. The health authority shall instruct cases and carriers of Cryptosporidium spp. of the need and proper method of hand washing after defecation.

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

     6. If a case having cryptosporidiosis 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)