| Prevention/Control
Communicable Diseases |
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It is the policy of the Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH) to prevent and control communicable disease. Working together we can prevent disease transmission to personnel and to patients.
A combination of four elements make up the contagious disease policy.
Prevention
From pre-employment screening, immunization programs, to annual TB tests and Influenza shots - Prevention is the name of the game!
Management of Personnel with Contagious Diseases
If you have an infectious disease you need to talk with Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) for diagnosis, recommendations on treatment, and to decide whether you can take care of patients. Once, you feel better, you need to be cleared before returning
to duty. OHS, (after hours beep at 283-2497), or the nurse, on call can complete the "Return to Work" form.
Management of Exposure to Patients or Personnel
If you or a patient are exposed to an infectious disease OHS and HEIC will assist you in making sure the proper steps are taken. The first person to note an exposure must notify HEIC
- 410-955-8384
- pager 410-283-3855,
- after hours: 410-283-3850.
Employee exposures, also call OHS
- 410-955-6211
- after hours beep at 283-2497.
Employee exposures to bloodborne pathogens - i.e. HepatitisB & C, HIV are handled by Occupational Injury Clinic
| Infectious Disease Fellow |
5-STIX (410-955-7849) |
Listen to the message to get instructions on how to contact the ID Fellow who will respond within 10 minutes |
Infectious Disease Reporting to HEIC
Rapid reporting is vital to surrounding and controlling infectious disease outbreaks. OHS reports employee infectious disease cases and exposures to HEIC. HEIC also receives reports concerning infectious patients and initiates investigations to prevent
nosocomial spread.
Please remember:
"JHH Personnel must follow this policy. Failure to comply with the policy will result in appropriate action which can include discipline up to and including termination."
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Prevention
At JHH pre-employment physicals use antibody titre testing to determine which employees are susceptible to certain infectious diseases. Vaccination can then be used to prevent disease in these employees. Tuberculosis screening is also included.
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Communicable Disease
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Pre-Employment Screen
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Vaccine Available from OHS
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Immunity Required for Patient Contact
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Tuberculosis
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X
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Varicella
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X
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X
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X any patients
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Rubella
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X
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X
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X obstetrics
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Rubeola
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X
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X
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Hepatitis B
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X
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X
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Tetanus
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X
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Mumps
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X
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Diptheria
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X
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- Pre employment screening
- All Health Care Employees will be screened for Tuberculosis by PPD skin test, depending on BCG(tuberculosis vaccine) history. Chest x-rays will be taken if indicated. Serum antibody tests will be conducted for varicella, rubeola, rubella, and Hepa
titis B virus surface antigen titres.
- Periodic Screening
- Periodic screening for tuberculosis will be conducted.
Immunizations or Proof of Immunity Required
| Measles |
if born after 1956 |
documented vaccine after 1 year of age
immunity by blood test for antibody to rubeola |
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| Rubella |
if born after 1956 |
documented vaccine after 1 year of age
immunity by blood test for antibody to rubella
Immunity required for Obstetrics personnel |
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| Hepatits B |
vaccine available |
Must sign declination form if decline
vaccination
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| Varicella |
vaccine available |
If an employee works with patients they
must be immune to varicella. |
| Exemptions: |
| A medical exemption will be
granted for any worker who presents a written statement from
a licensed physician or a health officer indicating that immunization
against rubella or measles is medically contraindicated or detrimental
to the wo rker's health. The statement shall indicate whether
the exemption should be permanent or temporary. If temporary,
the statement shall indicate the date on which the worker is
to receive the immunization. (Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene, State o f Maryland (DHMH) 10.06.01)
If a worker objects to a measles or rubella immunization upon the grounds that it conflicts with the worker's bona fide religious beliefs and practices, religious exemptions to the worker shall be granted for the immunization (DHMH 10.06.01). |
Vaccinations available to Susceptible Personnel through Occupational Health and Safety.
MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) Hepatitis B
Influenza Tetanus, Diptheria
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The Basics
1. If you are sick go to OHS
- for diagnosis
- for treatment recommendations - see your own doctor for the best treatment for you.
- for deciding if you can go to work
2. HEIC will be notified by OHS
3. To go back to work you must have a completed "Return to Work" form from OHS
- 7:30am - 4:00pm Houck Bldg, 3rd floor
- after hours beeper 283-2497
- or the paging operator can page the nurse on call
Specific Disease Information on the NosoWeb
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Infectious Disease Reporting to HEIC
The Basics
1. OHS reports all cases of or exposures to the following diseases to HEIC
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Tuberculosis, including skin test conversion
Purulent lesions of the hand(s)
Rubella
Varicella (chicken pox or shingles)
Measles
Salmonella |
Meningococcal disease
Pertussis
Scabies
Influenza
Herpetic whitlow
E coli 0157:H7 |
2. OHS also reports the following to HEIC
- Second case of conjunctivitis within 3 weeks
- Second case of purulent pharyngitis within 3 weeks
- Second case of viral gastroenteritis
3. OHS also reports any infection which on epidemiologic grounds could be infectious. (i.e. TB, Hepatitis, RSV, etc.)
4. Reports are filed on the Infection Control Report Form. In instances where more than one patient or employee has been exposed/ill, HEIC will initate an Exposure Survey Form.
HEIC maintains a record of employee infections for a two year period and uses them to look for clusters of infections and sources of some individual infections. A copy of the report form will be maintained in the employee's OHS file. At no time is th
is information part of an employee's personnel file or any other medical file.
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