Outbreaks occur when the usual incidence of disease in a hospital, long-term care or retirement home is exceeded at any given time. Early identification of an outbreak is essential since the implementation of precautions and therapeutic interventions can prevent the spread of infection and decrease the morbidity and mortality of a very frail, compromised population. For more information, please review our Outbreak Management Quick Reference Guide.
You may also wish to view any open outbreaks in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties in our Public Health Notices section.
Additional Information for Institutional Health Care Providers:
- A Guide to the Control of Gastroenteritis Outbreaks in Long-Term Care Homes
- A Guide to the Control of Respiratory Infection Outbreaks in Long-Term Care Homes
- Best Practice Documents – Provincial Infectious Disease Advisory Committee (PIDAC)
- Food Premises Regulation
- Laboratory Services (Public Health Ontario Laboratory)
- Labstracts (Public Health Ontario Laboratory)
- Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority
TB Screening in Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes
The regulations in the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 and the Retirement Homes Act, 2010 set out requirements for TB screening. Each resident admitted to the home must be screened for tuberculosis within 14 days of admission unless the resident has already been screened at some time in the 90 days prior to admission and the documented results of the screening are available to the licensee.
Please note that a TB screening test is not recommended for residents who are over 65 years of age. As people age, the test may become increasingly unreliable and difficult to interpret. In addition, if an elderly individual does convert to a positive result following a TB exposure, prophylaxis is often not possible.
Additional Information Regarding TB Screening:
- Canadian Tuberculosis Standards, 7th Edition 2013
- Recommendations for Tuberculosis (TB) Screening in Long Term Care and Retirement Homes
- Active TB Screening Checklist for Clinicians
- TB Screening – Frequently Asked Questions
- Positive Tuberculin Skin Test Report Form
- Tuberculosis Information for Health Care Providers 5th Edition
