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An Outbreak of Norovirus Infection in a Long-Term-Care Unit in Spain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Gemma Navarro ,
Rosa M. Sala ,
Ferran Segura ,
César Arias ,
Pilar Varela ,
Pilar Peña ,
Teresa Llovet ,
Isabel Sanfeliu ,
Maria Canals  and
Guadalupe Serrate
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Gemma Navarro*
Affiliation:
Corporació Pare Taulí, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain
Rosa M. Sala
Affiliation:
Epidemiological Surveillance Unit of Central Region, Department of Health and Social Security, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain
Ferran Segura
Affiliation:
Corporació Pare Taulí, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain
César Arias
Affiliation:
Corporació Pare Taulí, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain
Pilar Varela
Affiliation:
Corporació Pare Taulí, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain
Pilar Peña
Affiliation:
Corporació Pare Taulí, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain
Teresa Llovet
Affiliation:
Hospital Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
Maria Canals
Affiliation:
Corporació Pare Taulí, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain
Guadalupe Serrate
Affiliation:
Corporació Pare Taulí, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain
Antonio Nogueras
Affiliation:
Corporació Pare Taulí, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain
*
Unitat d'Epidemiologia I Avaluado, Corporació Parc Tauli, Parc Tauli s/n, 08208 Sabadell, Barcelona, Spaingnavarro@cspt.es
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Abstract

Background:

Norovirus belongs to the Caliciviridae family and causes outbreaks of infectious enteritis by fecal-oral transmission. In Spain, there have been few outbreaks reported due to this virus. We describe an outbreak on a long-term-care hospital ward.

Methods:

Cases were classified as probable, confirmed, and secondary. Stool cultures were performed. Polymerase chain reaction detection of norovirus was also performed.

Results:

The outbreak occurred from December 7 to 28, 2001, involving 60 cases (32 patients, 19 staff members, 8 patients' relatives, and 1 relative of a staff member). Most (82%) of the cases were female. The most frequently involved ages were 20 to 39 years for staff members and 70 to 89 years for patients. The incubation period of secondary cases in patients' families had a median of 48 hours (range, 1 to 7 days). Clinical symptoms included diarrhea (85%), vomiting (75%), fever (37%), nausea (23%), and abdominal pain (12%). Median duration of the disease was 48 hours (range, 1 to 7 days). All cases resolved and the outbreak halted with additional hygienic measures. Stool cultures were all negative for enteropathogenic bacteria and rotaviruses. In 16 of 23 cases, the norovirus genotype 2 antigen was detected.

Conclusion:

This outbreak of gastroenteritis due to norovirus genotype 2 affected patients, staff members, and their relatives in a long-term-care facility and was controlled in 21 days.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 26 , Issue 3 , March 2005 , pp. 259 - 262
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2005

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