Section 27.76. Exclusion and readmission of children, and staff having contact with children, in child care group settings

(a) Sections 27.71—27.75 apply to child care group settings, with the exception that readmission of excluded persons as provided in those sections, as well as provided in this subsection, shall be contingent upon a physician verifying that the criteria for readmission have been satisfied. The following conditions and circumstances also govern exclusion from and readmission to a child care group setting of a child, or a staff person, including a volunteer, who has contact with children attending the child care group setting:

(1) Meningococcal meningitis or meningococcemia. Until made noninfective by a course of rifampin or other drug which is effective against the nasopharyngeal carriage stage of this disease, or otherwise shown to be noninfective.

(2) Haemophilus influenzae (H. flu) meningitis or other invasive H. flu disease. Until made noninfectious by a course of rifampin or other drug which is effective against the nasopharyngeal carriage stage of this disease, or otherwise shown to be noninfective.

(3) Persistent diarrhea. Until resolved or judged to be noninfective when associated with any of the following:

(i) Inability to prevent contamination of the environment with feces.

(ii) Fever.

(iii) Identified bacterial or parasitic pathogen.

(4) Fever in children younger than 4 months of greater than 101° F. rectally or 100° F. axillary; in children 4-24 months of greater than 102° F. rectally or 101° F. axillary. Until resolved or judged to be noninfective.

(5) Hepatitis A, viral hepatitis unspecified, or jaundice of unspecified etiology. Until 1 week following the onset of jaundice, or 2 weeks following symptom onset or IgM antibody positivity if jaundice is not present.

(6) Shigellosis. Until the etiologic organism is eradicated. See § 27.158 (relating to special requirements for shigellosis).

(7) Typhoid fever or paratyphoid fever. Until the etiologic organism is eradicated. See § 27.159 (relating to special requirements for typhoid and paratyphoid fever).

(8) Exposure to an individual with meningococcal disease. Until the institution of treatment with appropriate antibiotic to eradicate the nasopharyngeal carrier state, or until proven noninfectious with nasopharyngeal cultures, or until 30 days following the exposure. Exclusion shall be postponed, until the second day following notice that exclusion will be required, to give the individual sufficient time to arrange for institution of appropriate antibiotic treatment.

(b) To facilitate the proper exclusion of sick children and staff, the caregiver at a child care group setting shall arrange for the following:

(1) Instruction of staff, including volunteers, regarding exclusion and screening criteria that apply to themselves and attending children.

(2) Instruction of parents and guardians regarding exclusion criteria and that they are to notify the caregiver within 24 hours after it is determined or suspected that a child has an illness or condition for which exclusion is required.

(3) Followup after exclusion of a child by staff at the time the child is brought to the child care group setting to ensure that the condition which required exclusion has been resolved.

The provisions of this § 27.76 adopted January 25, 2002, effective January 26, 2002, 32 Pa.B. 491.

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 28 Pa. Code § 27.77 (relating to immunization requirements for children in child care group settings).