California Code of Regulations › Title 17 - Public Health › Division 1 - State Department of Health Services › Chapter 4 - Preventive Medical Service › Subchapter 1 - Reportable Diseases and Conditions › Article 3 - Specific Diseases and Conditions › Section 2566 - Diphtheria

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) Isolation of
					 Patient. The patient shall be isolated in accordance with Section
					 2516 until 2 cultures from the throat
					 and 2 from the nose, taken not less than 24 hours apart, fail to show the presence
					 of diphtheria bacilli, except that upon clinical recovery and where antibiotics have
					 been used as therapy, isolation may be modified in accordance with Section
					 2518. Release cultures may not be taken
					 less than seven days after discontinuance of such therapy. Isolation may be
					 terminated if the bacilli cultured from the case are proved to be
					 virulent.
(b) Control of Household
					 Contacts. All household contacts shall be kept under daily medical observation for
					 clinical evidence of diphtheria for seven days after last exposure. These contacts
					 shall be isolated if they are found to have sore throat or nasal discharge until
					 proved by culture not to have diphtheria. All household contacts under the age of 15
					 shall be quarantined for at least seven days after the last exposure to the case.
					 Nose and throat cultures for diphtheria should then be taken and the contacts may be
					 released from quarantine if such cultures are negative. If the contact has received
					 an antibiotic, release cultures may not be taken less than seven days after
					 discontinuation of such medication.
(c)
					 Release of Carriers From Isolation. Convalescent or healthy carriers of diphtheria
					 bacilli may be released from quarantine if the bacilli are shown to be avirulent by
					 appropriate laboratory tests. Any person who has been free from the symptoms of
					 diphtheria for four weeks or longer and who harbors virulent diphtheria bacilli is
					 defined as a chronic carrier. Efforts should be made to eliminate the carrier state
					 in such persons by appropriate medical or surgical measures. If these measures are
					 unsuccessful or are refused the health officer may release the carrier from
					 isolation when, in his judgment, such release is not detrimental to the public
					 health, except that the carrier may not be permitted to engage in any occupation
					 which involves handling of foods of close association with children outside his own
					 family.
(d) Laboratory Tests for the
					 Release of Cases or Carriers. Cultures or virulence tests for the release of
					 diphtheria cases or carriers shall be taken not less than seven days after
					 discontinuation of antibiotic therapy and examined in accordance with the provisions
					 of Section 2534.
(e) Cases on Dairies. When a case of diphtheria
					 occurs or is confined on the premises where milk or milk products are handled, the
					 health officer shall prohibit the use, sale or disposal of such milk or milk
					 product, except by a method approved by him, until he is satisfied that such
					 products are safe for human consumption.
(f) Immunization. The health officer shall take
					 appropriate measures to encourage and facilitate a continuing program of active
					 immunization against diphtheria for all children within his jurisdiction.
1. Amendment
						filed 5-24-55; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 55, No.
						8).