Services

Health care providers play a key role in the public health department efforts to control notifiable diseases. Health care practitioners are required to report notifiable diseases or conditions in the State of Florida (mandated under Florida Statute 381.0031, Rule 64D-3, Florida Administrative Code [F.A.C.]) to the local health department. The Epidemiology and Health Assessment Program at the Collier County Health Department (CCHD) investigates and makes reports to the Florida Department of Health in accordance with F.A.C. 64D-3.

A list of reportable diseases/conditions in Florida can be accessed at Reportable Diseases and Conditions in Florida. Certain diseases of public health importance require reporting upon the initial clinical suspicion of the disease, so the necessary public health response can be initiated in a timely manner. There are three categories for reporting diseases:

Report immediately 24/7 by telephone upon initial suspicion or when ordering
a laboratory test
Report immediately 24/7 by telephone
Report next business day

Varicella is a physician-diagnosed disease, and does not require a lab report in order to be reported to the Collier County Health Department. Health care professionals should contact the Collier County Health Department at the telephone numbers provided below to report cases of communicable diseases.

Telephone

Tuberculosis confirmed or suspected: 239-252-2699
HIV/AIDS: 239-252-8447
STD (Naples): 239-252-6273
STD (Immokalee): 239-252-7326
All other diseases: 239-252-2690 or 2676 or 2685

Weekend and after-hours Epidemiology pager: 239-279-4347
PLEASE NOTE: If you cannot reach someone at the numbers listed above please call the Weekend / After Hours Epidemiology pager.

Services

The guidelines for the STD diagnosis, treatment and follow up were updated by the CDC in 2010. It provides new recommendations regarding some treatments and testing procedures. Some of the significant changes include:

The expanded diagnostic evaluation for cervicitis and trichomoniasis
New treatment recommendations for bacterial vaginosis and genital warts
HPV vaccine
Management of Genital Herpes
Treatment of early latent syphilis in HIV positive patients
The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Lymphogranuloma venereum proctocolitis among men who have sex with men
Ectoparasite Infections (Pediculosis Pubis & Scabies)

A summary of changes can be accessed at Summary of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Treatment Guidelines, 2010.

Telephone

Muhammad J. Abbasi
Epidemiology & STD Program Manager
239.252.8993

Jean M. St Charles
STD Program Supervisor
239. 252.6273

Guidelines

The following provides guidance for referral of patients to the Collier County Health Department's (CCHD) TB program based on the Florida Department of Health's (FDOH) strategies for the control and prevention of TB in Florida. The first two strategies focus on identifying and treating persons with TB disease and the identification and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) of contacts to TB cases. The third strategy is targeted testing and treatment to completion of persons with LTBI who are at high risk for progressing to TB disease.

Persons with suspected or confirmed TB disease are to be reported to the CCHD by the next business day at 252-2699 or 252-6007 in accordance with Florida Statutes 381.0031 and 392.53 and Rule 64D-3, Florida Administrative Code (FAC). A referral form is not required for reporting of suspect or confirmed TB cases.

Persons with Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) - In order for the CCHD to make the best use of CCHD's limited resources in controlling and preventing TB disease in Collier we are only able to provide LTBI evaluation and treatment to those persons at highest risk for progression to TB disease who are likely to complete treatment. The attached referral form identifies those persons with LTBI at highest risk for progression to disease who the CCHD will evaluate and treat as appropriate. Persons who do not meet these criteria may be treated for LTBI by their private provider.

Telephone to Schedule Appointment or for More Information

Loty Fall, ARNP
TB Program Manager
239.252.6007

Gwen Griffis, R.N.
TB Clinic Supervisor
239. 252.2699

Eligibility Requirements

1) Complete the LTBI Referral Form and either fax a copy to the CCHD
239.252.8808 or give the patient a copy to bring to their CCHD appointment.
2) If an x-ray was performed either provide the patient with a copy of their x-ray report to bring to their appointment or fax a copy to the CCHD.
3) CCHD will evaluate the patient and provide LTBI treatment as appropriate.
4) CCHD will provide written follow-up to the provider of the outcome of the LTBI
evaluation.