Thursday, October 25, 2007

Atlantic County's TB Policy to Serve as State Training Model

Measures implemented by Atlantic County government to provide its correction officers with enhanced protection from potential exposure to tuberculosis and other infectious airborne disease will now be used by the New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services for training purposes.

County officials recently met with representatives from the state Department of Health and Human Services and the Faternal Order of Police #34 to review the county’s TB Infection Control Program at the Atlantic County Justice Facility. The county strengthened its program to help alleviate concerns among its officers with assistance from the two agencies. At that meeting, state TB Manager Tom Privett revealed plans to incorporate the county program in state training for correction officers.

"Our goal in reinforcing our policy was to provide our officers and their families with peace of mind, knowing that all medical and public health protocols are being followed to ensure their protection from infectious disease," stated County Executive Dennis Levinson. "It is rewarding to know that our efforts will now serve to help a large number of correction officers throughout the state."

The county’s enhanced policy includes annual mandatory two-stepTB skin tests, mandatory fit-testing and use of respiratory masks for officers who are in contact with any inmate suspected of having an airborne infectious disease, as well as annual inservice training on appropriate precautions, prevention and control of airborne infections, including, but not limited to, tuberculosis.

A two-step Mantoux tuberculin skin test is used to determine a valid baseline for latent TB infection. If the initial skin test is positive, the officer is considered infected and is treated in accordance with standard treatment protocols established by the state Department of Health and Senior Services. If the skin test is negative, the officer receives a second skin test within three weeks. If the second test is negative, no further treatment is necessary. If the second test is positive, the officer is considered infected and proceeds with treatment protocols.

Levinson credited the cooperation of state, county and FOP representatives in working to provide healthy work environments. "This is how government is supposed to operate."

For more information, please contact Howard Kyle, Chief of Staff, at (609) 343-2368.

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