NAC441A.680. Salmonellosis.

     1. The health authority shall investigate each case having salmonellosis, as identified by the finding of a person infected with or excreting Salmonella spp. organisms upon testing of a clinical specimen by a medical laboratory, to:

     (a) Confirm the diagnosis;

     (b) Determine the extent of any outbreak;

     (c) Identify any contact of the case;

     (d) Identify any carrier;

     (e) Identify the source of infection;

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

     (g) 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 Salmonella spp. shall not work in a sensitive occupation unless authorized to do so by the health authority. The health authority may authorize a person excreting Salmonella spp. to work in a sensitive occupation if:

     (a) At least two fecal specimens collected from the case, at least 24 hours apart and at least 48 hours after cessation of antimicrobial therapy, fail to show Salmonella spp. organisms upon testing by a medical laboratory; or

     (b) The health authority determines that:

          (1) The case is asymptomatic;

          (2) The risk of disease transmission is negligible; and

          (3) There is no indication of poor personal hygiene.

     3. A contact residing in the same household as a case having salmonellosis shall not work in a sensitive occupation unless authorized to do so by the health authority. The health authority may authorize the contact to work in a sensitive occupation if the contact:

     (a) Has submitted at least one fecal specimen for examination by a medical laboratory; or

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

Ê If a fecal specimen submitted for examination pursuant to paragraph (a) shows Salmonella spp. organisms, the contact shall be considered a case subject to the provisions of this section.

     4. A person who excretes Salmonella spp. for not less than 4 weeks and not more than 1 year after onset of acute illness is a convalescent carrier and shall not engage in a sensitive occupation unless at least two consecutive fecal specimens, taken at least 24 hours apart, fail to show Salmonella spp. organisms upon testing by a medical laboratory.

     5. A person who excretes Salmonella spp. for more than 1 year after onset of acute illness is a chronic carrier and shall not engage in a sensitive occupation unless three consecutive fecal specimens, taken at least 72 hours apart, fail to show Salmonella spp. organisms upon testing by a medical laboratory.

     6. The health authority shall instruct a case having salmonellosis or a carrier of Salmonella spp. of the need and proper method of hand washing after defecation.

     7. An infant or child excreting Salmonella spp. shall not attend a child care facility or school until asymptomatic. The health authority shall instruct a child care facility where an infant or child who is excreting Salmonella 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 salmonellosis.

     8. If a case having salmonellosis 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)