410 IAC 1-2.5-106 Hepatitis C infection; specific control measures

Sec. 106. The specific control measures for hepatitis C (acute) (infectious agent: hepatitis C virus) are as follows: (1) An investigation by the local health officer shall be performed within five (5) business days for the purpose of determining risk factors for infection and obtaining contacts. Contacts are defined as sexual partners, household members, individuals with whom needles have been shared, and others who have been exposed to infectious body fluids. In addition, the investigation shall focus on a history of the following: (A) Surgery. (B) Transfusion or other blood products exposures. (C) Hemodialysis. (D) Employment as a health care worker. (E) Other contacts with blood or other potentially infectious materials during the incubation period. When two (2) or more cases occur in association with some common exposure, a search for additional cases shall be conducted. If transfused blood or blood products is implicated in the transmission, the lot shall be withdrawn from use and reasonable steps taken to ensure that no further donations from the infected donor are utilized. (2) Standard precautions for hospitalized patients and universal precautions for others where exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials, or both, is a possibility. Infected persons shall not engage in sexual activities involving the exchange of body fluids without first informing their partner of their disease status. Infected persons shall not: (A) share needles or syringes with other persons without first notifying those persons of their disease status; (B) donate blood, plasma, or organs for transplantation; or (C) donate semen for artificial insemination. (3) Equipment contaminated with blood or other infectious body materials, or both, shall be appropriately disinfected or sterilized prior to reuse. (4) Quarantine is not required. (5) Protection/immunization with hepatitis A and B vaccine series when appropriate. Education shall be provided. Children eighteen (18) months of age or older born to infected mothers should be screened for anti-HCV. Health care workers with percutaneous or permucosal exposure to HCV shall have baseline and six (6) month follow-up serologic testing for anti-HCV and alanine aminotransferase activity. (6) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists set the standard clinical and laboratory case definition.