[32 Pa.B. 491]
[Continued from previous Web Page]
Subchapter D. SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES, TUBERCULOSIS AND OTHER COMMUNICABLE DISEASES § 27.81. Examination of persons suspected of being infected.
Whenever the Department or a local health authority has reasonable grounds to suspect a person of being infected with an organism causing a sexually transmitted disease, tuberculosis or other communicable disease, or of being a carrier, but lacks confirmatory medical or laboratory evidence, the Department or the local health authority may require the person to undergo a medical examination and any other approved diagnostic procedure to determine whether or not the person is infected or is a carrier. If the local health authority involved is not an LMRO, the local health authority shall consult with and receive approval from the Department prior to requiring any medical examination or other approved diagnostic procedure.
§ 27.82. Refusal to submit to examination.
(a) If a person refuses to submit to the examination required in § 27.81 (relating to examination of persons suspected of being infected), the Department or the local health authority may direct the person to be quarantined until it is determined that the person does not pose a threat to the public health by reason of being infected with a disease causing organism or being a carrier.
(b) If the person refuses to abide by an order issued under subsection (a), the Department or local health authority may file a petition in the court of common pleas of the county in which the person is present. The petition shall have a statement attached, given under oath by a physician licensed to practice in this Commonwealth, that the person is suspected of being infected with an organism causing a sexually transmitted disease, tuberculosis or other communicable disease, or that the person is suspected of being a carrier.
(1) Upon the filing of the petition, the court shall, within 24 hours after service of a copy upon the respondent, hold a hearing without a jury to ascertain whether the person named in the petition has refused to submit to an examination to determine whether the person is infected with the suspected disease causing organism, or that the person is a carrier.
(2) Upon a finding that the person has refused to submit to an examination and that there is no valid reason for the person to do so, the court may forthwith order the person to submit to the examination.
(3) The certificate of the physician attached to the petition shall be received in evidence and shall constitute prima facie evidence that the person named is suspected of being infected with the disease causing organism, or that the person is a carrier.
(c) A person refusing to undergo an examination as required under subsections (a) and (b) may be committed by the court to an institution in this Commonwealth determined by the Department to be suitable for the care of persons infected with the suspected disease causing organism.
§ 27.83. Court ordered examinations.
The examination ordered by the court under § 27.82 (relating to refusal to submit to examination) may be performed by a physician chosen by the person at the person's own expense. The examination shall include an appropriate physical examination and laboratory tests performed in a clinical laboratory approved by the Department to conduct the tests, and shall be conducted in accordance with accepted professional practices. The results shall be reported to the local health authority or the Department on case report forms furnished by the Department.
§ 27.84. Examination for a sexually transmitted disease of persons detained by police authorities.
(a) A person taken into custody and charged with a crime involving lewd conduct or a sex offense, or a person to whom the jurisdiction of a juvenile court attaches may be examined for a sexually transmitted disease by a qualified physician appointed by the Department, by the local health authority or by the court having jurisdiction over the person so charged. If the person refuses to permit an examination or provide a specimen for laboratory tests as requested by the physician designated by the Department, a local health authority or a court, judicial action may be pursued by the Department or local health authority to secure an appropriate remedy.
(b) A person convicted of a crime or pending trial, who is confined in or committed to a State or local penal institution, reformatory or other house of correction or detention, may be examined for a sexually transmitted disease by a qualified physician appointed by the Department or by the local health authority. If the person refuses to permit an examination or provide a specimen for laboratory tests as requested by the physician, judicial action may be pursued by the Department or local health authority to secure an appropriate remedy.
(c) A person described in subsection (a) or (b) found, upon examination, to be infected with a sexually transmitted disease shall be given appropriate treatment by the local health authority, the Department or the attending physician of the institution.
§ 27.85. Diagnosis and treatment of a sexually transmitted disease.
(a) The Department will provide or designate adequate facilities for the free diagnosis and, where necessary for the preservation of public health, free treatment of persons infected with sexually transmitted diseases.
(b) Upon approval of the Department, a local health authority shall undertake to share the expense of furnishing free diagnosis and free treatment of a sexually transmitted disease, or shall furnish free diagnosis and free treatment of the sexually transmitted disease without financial assistance from the Department.
§ 27.86. (Reserved).
§ 27.87. Refusal to submit to treatment for communicable diseases.
(a) If the Department or a local health authority finds that a person who is infected with a sexually transmitted disease, tuberculosis or other communicable disease in a communicable stage refuses to submit to treatment approved by the Department or by a local health authority, the Department or the local health authority, if it determines the action advances public health interests, shall order the person to be isolated in an appropriate institution designated by the Department or by the local health authority for safekeeping and treatment until the disease has been rendered noncommunicable.
(i) If the disease is one which may be significantly reduced in its communicability following short-term therapy, but is likely to significantly increase in its communicability if that therapy is not continued, such as tuberculosis, the Department or local health authority may order the person to complete therapy which is designed to prevent the disease from reverting to a communicable stage, including completion of an inpatient treatment regimen. See, also, § 27.161 (relating to special requirements for tuberculosis).
(ii) If the local health authority involved is not an LMRO, the local health authority shall consult with and receive approval from the Department prior to taking any action under this subsection.
(b) If a person refuses to comply with an order issued under subsection (a), the Department or local health authority may file a petition in the court of common pleas of the county in which the person is present to commit the person to an appropriate institution designated by the Department or by the local health authority for safekeeping and treatment as specified in subsection (a). Upon the filing of a petition, the court shall, within 24 hours after service of a copy upon the respondent, hold a hearing without a jury to ascertain whether the person named in the petition has refused to submit to treatment. Upon a finding that the person has refused to submit to treatment, the court shall issue an appropriate order.
(c) For the purpose of this section, treatment approved by the Department or by a local health authority may include treatment by an accredited practitioner of a well recognized church or religious denomination which relies on prayer or spiritual means alone for healing, if requirements relating to sanitation, isolation or quarantine are satisfied.
§ 27.88. Isolation and quarantine in appropriate institutions.
(a) When the Department or a local health authority orders a person with or suspected of having a sexually transmitted disease to be isolated or quarantined for the purpose of safekeeping and treatment, it may order that the isolation or quarantine take place in an institution where the person's movement is physically restricted.
(b) The Department or the local health authority shall reimburse an institution which accepts the person at the rate of maintenance that prevails in the institution, and shall furnish the necessary medical treatment to the person isolated or quarantined within the institution.
§ 27.89. Examinations for syphilis.
(a) Prenatal examination for syphilis.
(1) Blood sample.
(i) A physician who attends, treats or examines a pregnant woman for conditions relating to pregnancy during the period of gestation or delivery shall inform the woman that he intends to take or cause to be taken, unless the woman objects, a sample of her blood at the time of the first examination (including the initial visit when a pregnancy test is positive), or within 15 days after the first examination, and shall submit the sample to a clinical laboratory for an approved test for syphilis.
(ii) A physician shall similarly collect and have tested a sample of the pregnant woman's blood during the third trimester of her pregnancy, in those counties of this Commonwealth where the annual rate of infectious syphilis is at a rate of syphilis occurring in a given population for which the CDC has determined it is cost-effective to require special precautions.
(iii) The Department will publish the list of those counties in which this rate is occurring in the Pennsylvania Bulletin as necessary.
(iv) Other persons permitted by law to attend pregnant women, but not permitted by law to take blood samples, shall, unless the woman objects, cause a blood sample to be taken and submitted to a clinical laboratory for an approved test for syphilis.
(v) If the pregnant woman objects, it shall be the duty of the person attending the pregnant woman and seeking to have the woman give a blood sample to explain to her the desirability of the test.
(2) Charge for test. The serological test required by paragraph (1) will be made without charge, by the Department, upon the request of the physician submitting the blood sample and the submission of a certificate by the physician that the patient is unable to pay.
(b) Examination for syphilis in mother of newborn. A test for syphilis shall be done, unless the mother objects, on the blood of the mother of every newborn delivered in those counties of this Commonwealth where the annual rate of infectious syphilis is at a rate of syphilis occurring in a given population for which the CDC has determined it is cost-effective to require special precautions.
(1) The Department will publish the list of counties in which this rate is occurring in the Pennsylvania Bulletin as necessary.
(2) The results of the test shall be recorded both in the mother's medical record and in the newborn's medical record prior to discharge.
(c) Examination for syphilis in mother of stillborn.
(i) A test for syphilis shall be done, unless the mother objects, on the blood of the mother of every stillborn child delivered in those counties of this Commonwealth where the annual rate of infectious syphilis is at a rate of syphilis occurring in a given population for which the CDC has determined it is cost-effective to require special precautions.
(ii) The Department will publish the list of counties in which this rate is occurring in the Pennsylvania Bulletin as necessary.
(iii) The Department will be responsible for alerting physicians about this standard.
(iv) The blood shall be collected within 2 hours after delivery and the result entered into the mother's medical record prior to discharge. See also, § 27.95 (relating to reporting syphilis examination information for births and fetal deaths).
§§ 27.90--27.94. (Reserved).
§ 27.95. Reporting syphilis examination information for births and fetal deaths.
In reporting a birth or fetal death, physicians and others required to make the reports shall state in the medical record whether or not the blood tests required by § 27.89(b) (relating to examinations for syphilis) were made. If a test was made, the date of the test shall be given, and if a test was not made, the reason the test was not made shall be given.
§ 27.96. Diagnostic tests for sexually transmitted diseases.
(a) When testing for a sexually transmitted disease is required by the act or this chapter, the test used shall be a test approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and if a laboratory test is part of the approved procedure, it shall be conducted in a clinical laboratory approved by the Department to perform the test.
(b) The diagnostic tests that have been approved to test for each sexually transmitted disease may be ascertained by contacting the Division of Clinical Microbiology, Bureau of Laboratories.
§ 27.97. Treatment of minors.
A person under 21 years of age may give consent for medical and other health services to determine the presence of or to treat a sexually transmitted disease and any other reportable disease, infection or condition. If the minor consents to undergo diagnosis or treatment, approval or consent of another person is not necessary. The physician may not be sued or held liable for implementing appropriate diagnostic measures or administering appropriate treatment to the minor if the minor has consented to the procedures or treatment.
§ 27.98. Prophylactic treatment of newborns.
(a) Physicians and midwives attending women in childbirth shall instill in each eye of the newborn child, as soon as practicable after birth, either a 1% silver nitrate solution, or erythromycin ophthalmic ointment or solution as a single application in both conjunctival sacs, or appropriate medication approved by the Department.
(b) If the parent or guardian of the newborn child objects on the ground that the prophylactic treatment conflicts with the parent's or guardian's religious beliefs or practices, or if in the opinion of the attending physician treatment is not advisable, prophylactic treatment shall be withheld.
(c) An entry in the child's hospital record indicating the reason for withholding treatment shall be made and signed by the attending physician and the parent or guardian.
§ 27.99. Prenatal examination for hepatitis B.
(a) A physician who attends, treats or examines a pregnant woman for conditions relating to pregnancy during the period of gestation or delivery, shall inform the woman that the physician intends to take or cause to be taken, unless the woman objects, a sample of her blood at the time of the first examination (including the initial visit when a pregnancy test is positive) or within 15 days thereafter, but no later than the time of delivery, and shall submit the sample to a clinical laboratory approved by the Department to conduct immunologic testing.
(b) When a pregnant woman tests positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, a physician shall provide the appropriate prophylactic treatment to the newborn within 12 hours after birth. If the parent or guardian of the newborn child objects on the ground that the prophylactic treatment conflicts with the parent's or guardian's religious beliefs or practices, prophylactic treatment shall be withheld, and an entry in the child's hospital record indicating the reason for withholding treatment shall be made and signed by the attending physician and the parent or guardian.
Subchapter E. SELECTED PROCEDURES FOR PREVENTING DISEASE TRANSMISSION §§ 27.101--27.146. (Reserved).
§ 27.151. Restrictions on the donation of blood, blood products, tissue, sperm and ova.
(a) A person known to be, or suspected of being, infected with the causative agent of a reportable disease is not allowed to donate blood, blood products, tissue, sperm or ova for use in other human beings.
(1) In addition, a person or entity may not accept any of these materials from a person known to be, or suspected of being, infected with the causative agent of a reportable disease for donation without obtaining laboratory evidence showing the absence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV or other diseases and infections, which the Department may specify by placing a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
(2) The list of additional diseases and conditions will not remain in effect for more than 90 days after publication unless the Board acts to affirm it within that 90-day period.
(b) The only exception to a person or entity accepting donations without obtaining laboratory evidence showing the absence of diseases and infections designated by the Department is when the delay that would be necessary to properly test the blood of the donor would threaten the recipient's survival.
§ 27.152. Investigation of cases and outbreaks.
(a) The Department or a local health authority may investigate any case or outbreak of disease judged by the Department or local health authority to be a potential threat to the public health.
(b) A person may not interfere with or obstruct a representative of the Department or a local health authority who seeks to enter a house, health care facility, building or other premises to carry out an investigation of a case or outbreak, if the representative presents documentation to establish that he is an authorized representative of the Department or the local health authority.
(c) In the course of conducting an investigation of a case or outbreak, the authorized representative of the Department or local health authority may conduct a confidential review of medical records. A person may not interfere with or obstruct this review.
§ 27.153. Restrictions on food handlers.
A person with the following diseases or conditions may not work as a food handler, see, also, 3 Pa.C.S. Chapter 65 (relating to the Food Employee Certification Act) and 7 Pa. Code §§ 78.41--78.43 (relating to health and disease control of employees), except as follows:
(1) Amebiasis. Until the etiologic organism is eradicated as proven by two consecutive negative stool specimens, obtained at least 24 hours apart, as verified by a physician. If antiparasitic treatment has been given, the specimens may not be collected sooner than 48 hours after treatment was completed. See § 27.156 (relating to the special requirements for amebiasis).
(2) Enterohemorrhagic E. coli. Until the etiologic organism is eradicated as proven by two consecutive negative stool specimens, obtained at least 24 hours apart, as verified by a physician. If antibacterial treatment has been given, the specimens may not be collected sooner than 48 hours after treatment was completed. See § 27.157 (relating to the special requirements for enterohemorrhagic E. coli).
(3) Shigellosis. Until the etiologic organism is eradicated as proven by two consecutive negative stool specimens, obtained at least 24 hours apart, as verified by a physician. If antibacterial treatment has been given, the specimens may not be collected sooner than 48 hours after treatment was completed. See § 27.158 (relating to the special requirements for shigellosis).
(4) Typhoid fever or paratyphoid fever. Until the etiologic organism has been eradicated as proven by three negative successive stool specimens collected at intervals of at least 24 hours nor earlier than 48 hours after receiving the last dose of a chemotherapeutic drug effective against Salmonella typhi or paratyphi, and no earlier than 1 month after onset. See § 27.159 (relating to the special requirements for typhoid and paratyphoid fever).
(5) Hepatitis A, viral hepatitis, or jaundice of unspecified etiology. Until 1 week following the onset of jaundice, or 2 weeks following symptom onset or IgM antibody positivity if jaundice is not present, as verified by a physician.
(6) Persistent diarrhea. Until resolved or judged to be noninfective by a physician.
§ 27.154. Restrictions on caregivers in a child care group setting.
A person with the following diseases or conditions may not work as a care giver in a child care group setting if the caregiver attends or works in a capacity which requires direct contact with children except as follows:
(1) Amebiasis. Until the etiologic organism is eradicated as proven by two consecutive negative stool specimens, obtained at least 24 hours apart, as verified by a physician. If antibacterial treatment has been given the specimens may not be collected sooner than 48 hours after treatment was completed. See § 27.156 (relating to the special requirements for amebiasis).
(2) Enterohemorrhagic E. coli. Until the etiologic organism is eradicated as proven by two consecutive negative stool specimens, obtained at least 24 hours apart, as verified by a physician. If antibacterial treatment has been given, the specimens may not be collected sooner than 48 hours after treatment was completed. See § 27.157 (relating to the special requirements for enterohemorrhagic E. coli).
(3) Shigellosis. Until the etiologic organism is eradicated as proven by two consecutive negative stool specimens, obtained at least 24 hours apart, as verified by a physician. If antibacterial treatment has been given the specimens may not be collected sooner than 48 hours after treatment was completed. See § 27.158 (relating to the special requirements for shigellosis).
(4) Typhoid fever or paratyphoid fever. Until the etiologic organism is eradicated as proven by three negative successive stool specimens collected at intervals of no less than 24 hours nor earlier than 48 hours after receiving the last dose of a chemotherapeutic drug effective against Salmonella typhi or paratyphi, and no earlier than 1 month after onset. See § 27.159 (relating to the special requirements for typhoid and paratyphoid fever).
(5) Hepatitis A, viral hepatitis or jaundice of unspecified etiology. Until 1 week following the onset of jaundice, or 2 weeks following symptom onset or IgM antibody positivity if jaundice is not present, as verified by a physician.
(6) Persistent diarrhea. Until resolved or judged to be noninfective by a physician.
§ 27.155. Restrictions on health care practitioners.
Persons with the following diseases or conditions may not work as health care practitioners who provide direct patient care:
(1) Amebiasis. Until the etiologic organism is eradicated as proven by two consecutive negative stool specimens, obtained at least 24 hours apart, as verified by a physician. If antiparasitic treatment has been given, the specimens may not be collected sooner than 48 hours after treatment was completed. See § 27.156 (relating to the special requirements for amebiasis).
(2) Enterohemorrhagic E. coli. Until the etiologic organism is eradicated as proven by two consecutive negative stool specimens, obtained at least 24 hours apart, as verified by a physician. If antibacterial treatment has been given, the specimens may not be collected sooner than 48 hours after treatment was completed. See § 27.157 (relating to the special requirements for enterohemorrhagic E. coli).
(3) Shigellosis. Until the etiologic organism is eradicated as proven by two consecutive negative stool specimens, obtained at least 24 hours apart, as verified by a physician. If antibacterial treatment has been given the specimens may not be collected sooner than 48 hours after treatment was completed. See § 27.158 (relating to the special requirements for shigellosis).
(4) Typhoid fever or paratyphoid fever. Until the etiologic organism is eradicated as proven by three negative successive stool specimens collected at intervals of no less than 24 hours nor earlier than 48 hours after receiving the last dose of a chemotherapeutic drug effective against Salmonella typhi or paratyphi, and no earlier than 1 month after onset. See § 27.159 (relating to the special requirements for typhoid or paratyphoid fever).
(5) Hepatitis A, viral hepatitis or jaundice of unspecified etiology. Until 1 week following the onset of jaundice, or 2 weeks following symptom onset or IgM antibody positivity if jaundice is not present, as verified by a physician.
(6) Persistent diarrhea. Until resolved or judged to be noninfective by a physician.
§ 27.156. Special requirements for amebiasis.
A household contact of a case of amebiasis who prepares or serves food for public consumption, who attends or works in a child care group setting in a capacity which requires contact with children, or who provides direct patient care shall be required to cease work until the contact has submitted two consecutive stool specimens, taken at least 24 hours apart and at least 48 hours after the last dose of any antiparasitic therapy, to an appropriate clinical laboratory for bacteriologic examination and those specimens are determined by the laboratory to be negative for Entamoeba histolytica.
§ 27.157. Special requirements for enterohemorrhagic E. coli.
A household contact of a case of enterohemorrhagic E. coli, who prepares or serves food for public consumption, who attends or works in a child care group setting in a capacity which requires contact with children, or who provides direct patient care shall be required to cease work until the contact has submitted two consecutive stool specimens, taken at least 24 hours apart and at least 48 hours after the last dose of any antimicrobial therapy, to an appropriate clinical laboratory for bacteriologic examination and those specimens are determined by the laboratory to be negative for enterohemorrhagic E. coli.
§ 27.158. Special requirements for shigellosis.
A household contact of a case of shigellosis, who prepares or serves food for public consumption, who attends or works in a child care group setting in a capacity which requires contact with children, or who provides direct patient care shall be required to cease work until the contact has submitted two consecutive stool specimens, taken at least 24 hours apart and at least 48 hours after the last dose of any antimicrobial therapy, to an appropriate clinical laboratory for bacteriologic examination and the specimens are determined by the laboratory to be negative for shigella.
§ 27.159. Special requirements for typhoid and paratyphoid fever.
(a) An asymptomatic household contact of a case of typhoid fever or paratyphoid fever who prepares or serves food for public consumption, who attends or works in a child care group setting in a capacity which requires contact with children, or who provides direct patient care shall be required to cease work until the contact has submitted two stool specimens, taken at least 24 hours apart, to an appropriate clinical laboratory for bacteriologic examination and those specimens are determined by the laboratory to be negative for Salmonella typhi or Salmonella paratyphi.
(b) A symptomatic household contact of a case of typhoid or paratyphoid fever who prepares or serves food for public consumption, who attends or works in a child care group setting in a capacity which involves contact with children, or who provides direct patient care shall be required to cease work until bacteriologic examination of three consecutive stool specimens, taken at least 24 hours apart and no sooner than 48 hours after any microbial therapy, and no earlier than 1 month after onset, are reported as negative.
(c) A chronic carrier of typhoid or paratyphoid fever shall be excluded from preparing or serving food for public consumption, attending or working in a child care group setting in a capacity which involves contact with children, and providing direct patient care, until three consecutive negative fecal cultures are obtained from specimens taken at least 1 month apart and at least 48 hours after antibiotic therapy has stopped.
§ 27.160. Special requirements for measles.
(a) Isolation. An infected person shall be restricted to the premises for 4 days after the appearance of the rash.
(b) Quarantine. Whenever measles is determined to be present in a school or child care group setting population, the Department or a local health department may do the following:
(1) Ascertain which children and staff persons are presumed susceptibles. A presumed susceptible is a person who fits into all of the following categories:
(i) Presents no history of two doses of measles vaccination, separated by at least 1 month, while 12 months of age or older.
(ii) Does not demonstrate serological evidence of measles immunity. The serological evidence is the presence of antibody to measles determined by the hemagglutination inhibition test or a comparable test.
(iii) Was born after December 31, 1956.
(2) Order exclusion from the school or child care group setting of presumed susceptible children and staff persons who do not present evidence of having received measles vaccination within 30 days prior to the outbreak. Exclusion shall continue until the excluded persons prove they do not meet the exclusion criteria in paragraph (1), they receive a measles vaccination, or no case of measles has occurred for a 14-day period.
§ 27.161. Special requirements for tuberculosis.
(a) Isolation. A person suspected of having tuberculosis in its communicable stage shall be isolated in the following manner:
(1) Isolation for tuberculosis shall be established at the usual residence of the person suffering from tuberculosis whenever facilities for adequate isolation of the infectious person are available at the residence, if the person will accept the isolation. Isolation of a person treated at a residence shall include instruction in the need to cover the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and careful handling and disposal of sputum.
(2) If isolation for tuberculosis cannot be accomplished or maintained at the usual residence of the person and whenever, in the opinion of the Department or local health authority, the person is a health threat to others, by reason of the person's habits, neglect of treatment or noncompliance with the measures designed to protect others from infection, the isolation shall be enforced by following the procedures in § 27.87 (relating to refusal to submit to treatment for communicable diseases).
(i) Isolation of a person treated in an appropriate institution shall be in accordance with CDC Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in Health-Care Facilities and any updates thereto as approved by the Board.
(ii) The Department will publish notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin of updates of this publication within 30 days after Board approval is obtained.
(b) Handling of contacts. A human household contact or other close human contact shall be required to have a Mantoux tuberculin test or chest X-ray, or both. A close human contact means a person who spends a substantial amount of time with a person who has infectious tuberculosis. If the person refuses, enforcement shall be accomplished as designated in §§ 27.82 and 27.83 (relating to request to submit to examination; and court ordered examinations). If evidence of tuberculosis in contacts is found on chest X-rays or by symptoms, laboratory studies shall be conducted to determine if the contacts represent a public health threat.
§ 27.162. Special requirements for animal bites.
Except as may be otherwise required by the Dog Law (3 P. S. §§ 459-101--459-1205) and regulations promulgated by the Department of Agriculture in 7 Pa. Code Chapters 21, 23, 25 and 27 quarantine of a biting animal shall conform to the following:
(1) When an animal bites or otherwise potentially exposes a human to rabies, the Department or local health authority shall, after the case of an animal bite is reported, determine whether the animal shall be immediately destroyed and its head submitted to one of the State or county diagnostic laboratories for a rabies examination or whether some other action shall be pursued.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), when a healthy dog or cat bites or otherwise potentially exposes a human to rabies, the dog or cat shall be quarantined in a place and manner approved by the Department or the local health officer for 10 days after the date of the bite, unless the Department or local health officer directs otherwise.
(3) If a quarantine is imposed, the Department or the local health officer may order the owner or custodian of a biting animal to have the animal examined for symptoms of rabies during the quarantine period by a veterinarian licensed by the State Board of Veterinary Medicine. The cost of the examinations and other associated costs shall be borne by the owner or custodian of the biting animal.
§ 27.163. Special requirements for psittacosis.
A quarantine is not required for household contacts of a bird that is a carrier of psittacosis. However, parts of any buildings that housed birds infected with psittacosis may not be used by human beings until thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
§ 27.164. Special requirements for close contacts of cases of plague, pharyngitis or pneumonia.
A close contact of any person or animal that is diagnosed as having plague (Yersinia pestis) pharyngitis, or pneumonia shall be provided chemoprophylaxis and placed under surveillance for 7 days.
Subchapter F. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
PSITTACOSIS § 27.181. Records of the sale, purchase or exchange of psittacine birds.
A dealer who purchases, sells, exchanges or gives away a bird of the psittacine family shall keep a record for 2 years of each transaction. This record shall include the number of birds purchased, sold, exchanged or given away, the date of the transaction, and the name and address of the person from whom purchased, to whom sold or given away, or with whom exchanged. Records shall be available for official inspection.
§ 27.183. Occurrence of psittacosis.
(a) The occurrence of a case of psittacosis in the human or avian family shall be cause for the LMRO to make an epidemiologic investigation to determine the source of infection.
(b) Psittacine birds or other birds found on the same premises with a case of human or avian psittacosis shall be quarantined and treated, or destroyed, as prescribed by the Department or local health authority. Aviaries, pet shops or other sources from which the birds were procured shall be quarantined until the quarantine is terminated by the Department or local health authority. If quarantine is not maintained, the Department or local health authority may seize and destroy the birds for which quarantine was ordered. The Department or local health authority shall destroy the bodies of the birds in a manner which will preclude, insofar as possible, the dissemination of the suspected infecting organism.
(c) A bird with psittacosis that has been placed under quarantine may not be sold or removed from isolation until it has been treated for at least 7 days. After 7 days, the bird may be sold, but the seller shall make the buyer aware in writing of the significance of psittacosis and the signs and symptoms for which to look. The signed receipt shall include a copy of any documents provided to the new owner, and shall be maintained at the place of sale for 6 months after the sale of the quarantined bird. The duration of additional treatment necessary shall be established at the time of sale and the seller shall inform the new owner of the duration of the additional treatment. The seller shall supply the new owner with a supply of medicated feed sufficient for the duration of the treatment.
§ 27.184. (Reserved).
IMPORTATION OF ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS § 27.191. Importation of animals and animal products during a public health emergency.
In the event of a public health emergency, the Department may direct the following procedures for the importation of animals or animal products:
(1) Permit required. The Department may designate a specific type of animal or animal product which may not be brought or transported into this Commonwealth unless that animal or animal product is accompanied by a permit issued by the Department or other agency authorized by the Department to issue permits.
(2) Issuance of permits. A permit will be issued upon request if the source of the animal or animal product is established to the satisfaction of the Department or its agent and that source is known to be free of infection.
(3) Destruction of animals and animal products. If the animal or animal product is not accompanied by a permit or if the source is not the same as that set forth in the permit, the animal or animal product shall be immediately seized and destroyed and the means of conveyance disinfected at the expense of the owner.
§ 27.192. Importation and sale of live turtles.
A live turtle may not be sold or distributed or offered for sale or distribution within this Commonwealth except when the seller or distributor of the turtles shall warrant to the satisfaction of the Department that the shipment of turtles is free from salmonella contamination. The Department may waive the requirements of this section for live turtles sold or distributed within this Commonwealth for the purposes of research, other zoological purposes or for food.
DISPOSITION OF EFFECTS AND REMAINS OF INFECTED PERSONS § 27.201. Disposition of articles exposed to contamination.
A person may not give, lend, sell, transmit or expose, without previous cleaning and a certificate from the Department or local health authority attesting to the cleaning of bedding, clothing, rags or other articles which have been exposed to contamination from bubonic plague, smallpox (variola, varioloid) or anthrax, except when the transmission of the articles is made with proper precaution and with the permission of the Department or local health authority for the purpose of having them cleaned.
§ 27.202. Lease of premises occupied by a person with a communicable disease.
A person may not rent a room, house or part of a house in which there has been a person suffering from a communicable disease to another person without having the room, house or part of a house and articles therein previously cleaned to the satisfaction of the Department or local health authority prior to occupancy. The keeping of a hotel, boarding house or an apartment house shall be deemed as renting part of a house to a person who shall be admitted as a guest into the hotel, boarding house or apartment house.
§ 27.204. Funeral services.
Services held in connection with the funeral of a person who has died with a disease for which isolation or quarantine is required, shall be private when so ordered by the Department or local health authority having jurisdiction in the area in which the services shall be held. When the local health authority is not an LMRO, the local health authority shall consult with and receive the approval of the Department prior to making the order. The attendance at private funerals shall include only the immediate relatives of the deceased and the necessary number of pallbearers.
§ 27.205. (Reserved).
PART IV. HEALTH FACILITIES
Subpart C. LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES
CHAPTER 211. PROGRAM STANDARDS FOR LONG-TERM CARE NURSING FACILITIES § 211.1. Reportable diseases.
(a) When a resident develops a reportable disease, the administrator shall report the information to the appropriate health agencies and appropriate Division of Nursing Care Facilities field office. Reportable diseases, infections and conditions are listed in § 27.21a (relating to reporting of cases by health care practitioners and health care facilities).
(b) Cases of scabies and lice shall be reported to the appropriate Division of Nursing Care Facilities field office.
(c) Significant nosocomial outbreaks, as determined by the facility's medical director, Methicillin Resistant Stapylococcus Aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (VRSA), Vancomycin-Resistant Enterocci (VRE) and Vancomycin-Resistant Stapylococcus Epidermidis (VRSE) shall be reported to the appropriate Division of Nursing Care Facilities field office.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 02-161. Filed for public inspection January 25, 2002, 9:00 a.m.]
No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit.This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Bulletin full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.
