Subtitle 3 – Reporting Diseases — Tuberculosis

If a medical laboratory performs mycobacterial drug susceptibility tests of cultures that are identified as <em>M. tuberculosis</em> and that have not been referred to the Maryland Laboratories Administration for this determination, the individual in charge of the laboratory must report the test results to the Commissioner.

Unless a different time is set by the Commissioner or by State law, the report must be made within 48 hours of obtaining the test results.

The individual in charge of any public or private pharmacy, other than a facility operated by the Department, must report to the Commissioner of Health whenever it dispenses any anti- tuberculosis medication that the Commissioner specifies by rule or regulation adopted under <cite data-path="|health|§2-106">§ 2-106 {“Rules and regulations”} of this article</cite> for purposes of this section.

Unless a different time is set by the Commissioner or by State law, the report must be made within 48 hours of having dispensed the medication.

In addition to the information required by <cite data-path="|health|§4-102">§ 4-102 {“Form and contents of reports”} of this title</cite>, the report must contain the following information:

The prescription of medication:

A physician who treats a patient with tuberculosis must:

If the physician undertakes the investigation required by this section, the physician must report the results to the Commissioner.

In addition to any other information that the Commissioner requires, the report must contain:

If a patient with a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of tuberculosis leaves a ward, emergency room, or outpatient department of a hospital or other institution without the consent or against the advice of a physician or other individual in charge, the physician or other individual in charge must notify the Commissioner of the patient’s departure.

Unless a different time is set by the Commissioner or by State law, the notice must be given within 24 hours of the patient’s departure.

The Commissioner may take whatever action is needed to protect the public from that patient.

If any patient being treated for tuberculosis discontinues treatment before the period that the Commissioner sets for that treatment, the attending physician must notify the Commissioner of the discontinuance.

Unless a different time is set by the Commissioner or by State law, the notice must be given within 24 hours of the discontinuance.

The Commissioner may take whatever action is needed to protect the public from that patient.

Every physician or medical examiner must report to the Commissioner if he or she believes that an individual he or she attended or examined has died of tuberculosis.

Unless a different time is set by the Commissioner or by State law, the report must be made within 48 hours of the death or the discovery of the disease, whichever is later.

In addition to the information required by <cite data-path="|health|§4-102">§ 4-102 {“Form and contents of reports”} of this title</cite>, the report must contain the place of death.