NAC441A.620. Meningococcal disease.

     1. The health authority shall investigate each report of a case having invasive disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcal disease), including bacteremia, meningitis and septic arthritis to:

     (a) Confirm the diagnosis;

     (b) Determine the extent of any outbreak;

     (c) Identify any contacts; and

     (d) Determine the need for antimicrobial prophylaxis or immunization of contacts.

     2. The health authority shall recommend antimicrobial prophylaxis to any person who has had intimate exposure to nasopharyngeal secretions, including, but not limited to:

     (a) A contact residing in the same household as the case;

     (b) A contact sharing crowded quarters with the case, including, but not limited to, miners, prisoners and soldiers;

     (c) A contact who is a member of the staff of a child care facility or a child attending a child care facility; and

     (d) A first responder giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

     3. If a case having invasive disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis is in a medical facility, the medical facility shall provide care to the case in accordance with respiratory isolation or other appropriate disease specific precautions until 24 hours after initiation of effective therapy.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health, eff. 1-24-92)