Specified healthcare workers shall have a 2-step tuberculin skin test applied at the time of employment. [see HR/EHC database]
Employees who are initially skin test positive at the time of employment, or who subsequently convert their skin test, should be counseled regarding signs and symptoms of tuberculosis such as cough, fever, night sweats, and weight loss and instructed to report promptly to the EHC if such symptoms develop.
Tuberculosis screening shall be repeated annually for employees who have direct patient care.
Employees of the UTMB Community Based Clinics (CBC) will be allowed to have their PPD skin tests placed at their work site instead of the PPD skin test being placed at the Employee Health Clinic. One employee of each CBC clinic will be trained by the employee health clinic to place and read skin tests. All results of the tests will be sent to the Employee Health Clinic and documented in the employees chart.
PPD skin testing will be available for all employees even if they are not required to have skin tests.
Employees who have a documented positive skin test will not receive further skin testing. Employees will be counseled regarding signs and symptoms of tuberculosis. Routine chest x-rays are not necessary.
After exposure to tuberculosis, employees who have no previously documented positive skin test should be tested immediately after exposure. If the skin test done immediately postexposure is negative, it will be repeated in three months. A chest x-ray should be done on all new converters. All converters will be counseled and offered management through the EHC.
In cases of multiple exposures, employees should not be skin tested more than four times in one year. Individual cases shall be referred to the EHC physician.
All employees who work directly with patients will be fit tested to
the appropriate size N-95 mask. These employees will only
need to be fit tested once (fit tested for life), however, they will be
asked to complete an annual questionnaire concerning any
physical changes that may have taken place in the last year that
may have changed the shape of their face (i.e., dental work, loss
of weight, beard growth, etc.). If UTMB decides to change mask
manufacturers, employees will be refitted.
Employees who work in the clinical or research laboratories will
be fit tested annually in compliance with CAP and other
Environmental Health and Safety policies.
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