Section 145.08. Definitions.

  In this subchapter:

(1)  "Case management" means the creation and implementation of an individualized treatment plan for a person with tuberculosis infection or disease that ensures that the person receives appropriate treatment and support services in a timely, effective, and coordinated manner.

(2)  "Confinement" means the restriction of a person with tuberculosis to a specified place in order to prevent the transmission of the disease to others, to prevent the development of drug-resistant organisms or to ensure that the person receives a complete course of treatment.

(3)  "Contact" means a person who shares air with a person who has infectious tuberculosis.

(4)  "Contact investigation" means the process of identifying, examining, evaluating and treating a person at risk of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis due to recent exposure to infectious tuberculosis or suspected tuberculosis.

(5)  "Directly observed therapy" means the ingestion of prescribed anti-tuberculosis medication that is observed by a health care worker or other responsible person acting under the authority of the local health department.

(6)  "Infectious tuberculosis" means tuberculosis disease of the respiratory tract capable of producing infection or disease in others, as demonstrated by the presence of acid–fast bacilli in the sputum or bronchial secretions, or by radiographic and clinical findings.

(7)  "Isolate" means a population of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria that has been obtained in pure culture medium.

(8)  "Isolation" means the separation of persons with infectious tuberculosis from other persons, in a place and under conditions that will prevent transmission of the infection.

(9)  "Licensed prescriber" means an advanced practice nurse prescriber, a physician assistant, or other person licensed to prescribe medication under Wisconsin law.

(10)  "Public health dispensary" means a program of a local health department or group of local health departments to prevent and control tuberculosis disease and infection by the identification, medical evaluation, treatment and management of persons at risk for tuberculosis infection or disease.

(11)  "Repository" means a central location at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene for receipt and storage of patient isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

(12)  "Sputum conversion" means the conversion of serial sputum cultures for Mycobacterium tuberculosis from positive to negative, in response to effective treatment.

(13)  "Suspected tuberculosis" means an illness marked by symptoms, signs, or laboratory tests that may be indicative of infectious tuberculosis such as prolonged cough, prolonged fever, hemoptysis, compatible radiographic findings or other appropriate medical imaging findings.

(14)  "Tuberculosis disease" means an illness determined by clinical or laboratory criteria or both to be caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

(15)  "Tuberculosis infection" means an infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a person who has no symptoms of tuberculosis disease and is not infectious.

History: Cr. Register, April, 1984, No. 340 , eff. 5-1-84; r. and recr. Register, March, 2000, No. 531 , eff. 4-1-00; CR 01-105 : r. and recr. Register March 2002 No. 555 , eff. 4-1-02.