Several Texas laws (Health & Safety Code, Chapters 81, 84, and 87) require specific information regarding notifiable conditions be provided to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Health care providers, hospitals, laboratories, schools, and others are required to report patients who are suspected of having a notifiable condition (Chapter 97, Title 25, Texas Administrative Code  ). 2014 Summary of TAC changes relating to notifiable conditions.
WHAT: Notifiable conditions in Texas. In addition to these conditions, any outbreaks, exotic diseases, and unusual group expressions of disease must be reported. All diseases shall be reported by name, age, sex, race/ethnicity, DOB, address, telephone number, disease, date of onset, method of diagnosis, and name, address, and telephone number of physician.
WHEN: The List indicates when to report each condition. Cases or suspected cases of illness considered to be public health emergencies, outbreaks, exotic diseases, and unusual group expressions of disease must be reported to the local health department or DSHS immediately. Other diseases for which there must be a quick public health response must be reported within one working day. All other conditions must be reported to the local health department or DSHS within one week.
HOW: Most notifiable conditions, or other illnesses that may be of public health significance, should be reported directly to the local or health service regions. See exceptions marked by * on the Texas Notifiable Conditions List above. Paper reporting forms can be obtained by calling your local or health service region or by download in PDF format (Epi-2 for more detailed single case medical care provider reports or Epi-1 for less detailed multiple reports). As a last resort or in case of emergency, reports can be made by telephone to the state office at 888-963-7111. After hours this number will reach the physician/epidemiologist-on-call.
See reporting requirements for HIV/AIDS and other notifiable sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/hivstd/healthcare/reporting.shtm.
Invasive streptococcal disease, invasive meningococcal infection, or invasive Haemophilius influenzae type b infections refers to isolates from normally sterile sites and includes meningitis, septicemia, cellulitis, epiglottitis, osteomyelitis, pericarditis, septic arthritis, and necrotizing fasciitis.
Laboratory Services Section Manual of Reference Services
Laboratory Services Section Forms
Immediately report isolates of vancomycin intermediate and resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) and (VRSA) by calling (800) 252-8239 or faxing (512) 776-7616. Isolates of VISA and VRSA shall be submitted to the Texas Department of State Health Services, Laboratory Services Section, 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756-3199. All reports of VISA and VRSA shall include patient name; date of birth or age; sex; city of submitter; anatomic site of culture; date of culture; and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) if available.
Laboratories shall submit pure cultures of all Bacillus anthracis, Clostridium botulinum, Brucella species, E. coli 0157:H7, isolates or specimens from cases where Shiga-toxin activity is demonstrated, Listeria monocytogenes, Neisseria meningitidis from normally sterile sites, Yersinia pestis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, Francisella tularensis, Staphylococcus aureus with a vancomycin MIC greater than 2 µg/mL (VISA and VRSA), and Vibrio species accompanied by a current department Specimen Submission Form to the Texas Department of State Health Services, Laboratory Services Section, 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756-3199.
See reporting requirements for HIV/AIDS and other notifiable sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/hivstd/healthcare/reporting.shtm
For more information, call the Infectious Disease Control Unit at (800) 252-8239 (press 1).
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