TBC is a bacterial disease that is transmitted through airborne infection.

Answer the following questions with yes or no:

1. Do you come from, or have you stayed for at least 3 months in the last three years in a country with a high occurrence of tuberculosis?
   Check the list issued by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health of countries with a high and very high occurrence of tuberculosis.

2. Have you been in contact with tuberculosis infection, or could you have been exposed to tuberculosis infection in other ways?

If you answered YES to at least one of the above questions, the following applies:

• You have been exposed to an increased risk of infection and are legally required to undergo tuberculosis screening. You must have a tuberculosis screening even if you have received the BCG vaccine.
• You are responsible for arranging for tuberculosis screening (IGRA blood test and a chest X-ray).
  • Students in Oslo: Contact the health center in your district or the diagnostic section at Oslo University Hospital.
  • Students in Bergen: Contact the Office of Infection Control in Bergen.
  • Students in Stavanger/Sandnes: Office of Infection Control in Stavanger.
• The costs associated with medical testing are covered by the student.
• You must notify the placement coordinator at your institution immediately.
• As a general rule, you cannot start clinical placements/clinical studies until a negative test result is available. It may take some time to receive the test results.
• If you are already engaged in clinical placements/clinical studies, you must inform the placement site and follow the site’s procedures.
• You must be able to document the test results and present them to the placement site if requested.
• If the test is positive, you must undergo treatment. This may mean that you cannot participate in clinical placements/clinical studies with your cohort, which could impact your study progress. A positive test does not prevent you from following the theoretical part of the program.

If you answered NO to all questions, the following applies:

• You do not need to take any action.
• Later in your studies, it is your responsibility to report if you have been exposed to infection.

MRSA is the term for a bacterium (Staphylococcus aureus) that has developed resistance to important types of antibiotics.

Answer the following questions with yes or no:

1. Have you previously tested positive for MRSA but have not subsequently had three negative control tests?
2. In the past 12 months, have you:
   • Tested positive for MRSA, even if subsequent control tests were negative?
   • Lived in the same household as someone who is MRSA-positive?
   • Had close contact** with MRSA-positive individuals without using protective equipment? **"Close contact" means physical contact over time, such as frequently being with someone known to be MRSA-positive and shaking hands, hugging, or similar without using gloves and a face mask. Examples of such contact include:
     • Socializing with a known MRSA-positive family member or friend
     • Visiting a known MRSA-positive patient who is not in isolation (nursing home/community nursing service)
     • Working for or being in a healthcare service where there is an ongoing MRSA outbreak
   • Been in a country outside the Nordic region and:
     • Been admitted to a healthcare institution
     • Received extensive examination or treatment from a healthcare provider
     • Worked as a healthcare worker** **"Work as a healthcare worker" means any patient-centered work both within and outside healthcare institutions, e.g., as a primary doctor, in community nursing, in a nursing home or hospital, or in aid or emergency work.
   • Stayed in a children's home or refugee camp?
   • Several environments other than those mentioned may have an increased incidence of MRSA.

If you answered YES to at least one of the above questions, the following applies:

• You are legally required to undergo testing for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA test).
• You are responsible for arranging testing through your GP or the Office of Infection Control in your municipality.
  • Students in Bergen: You can also contact Strandsiden medical centre.
  • Students in Stavanger/Sandnes: You can also contact the Office of Infection Control in Stavanger.
• The costs associated with medical testing are covered by the student.
• You must notify the placement coordinator at your institution immediately.
• As a general rule, you cannot start clinical placements/clinical studies until a negative test result is available. It may take some time to receive the test results.
• If you are already engaged in clinical placements/clinical studies, you must inform the placement site and follow the site’s procedures.
• You must be able to document the test results and present them to the placement site if requested.
• If the test is positive, you must undergo treatment. This may mean that you cannot participate in clinical placements/clinical studies with your cohort, which could impact your study progress. A positive test does not prevent you from following the theoretical part of the program.

If you answered NO to all questions, the following applies:

• You do not need to take any action.
• Later in your studies, it is your responsibility to report if you have been exposed to infection.

These vaccines are part of the childhood immunization program in Norway. Norwegian health authorities recommend a booster vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, and polio every 10 years. Due to the increased risk of infection and further spread to vulnerable patients/users, this is especially important for healthcare personnel.

Read more about booster vaccines.

VID encourages all students to follow the Norwegian Institute of Public Health’s recommendations to get the flu vaccine.

Take the vaccine at least two weeks before starting your internship.

Individuals exposed to the risk of infection during their education are recommended to receive the Hepatitis B vaccine. This is especially relevant for healthcare personnel working with invasive procedures.

There is little tuberculosis in Norway today, and therefore the BCG vaccine is not routinely given to Norwegian children as part of the childhood immunization program. Until June 1, 2018, it was recommended that all healthcare personnel and all healthcare students with expected patient contact for over 3 months should be offered the BCG vaccine. After this date, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health dropped this general recommendation.

In special cases and after individual assessment, the BCG vaccine may be relevant for healthcare workers, prison staff, those at reception centers, or for international travel.