Norovirus Research Paper

To prevent and control the infection and the measures that are to be taken by the facility to limit the spread of norovirus is that the organisation should have signs saying that there are some infected patients. Making sure of having a proper hand hygiene and wash the laundry thoroughly and make sure to disinfect the clothes. Usage of proper Personal Protection Equipment and sterilize the suspected

The prototype of norovirus was identified in 1968 by electron microscopy as a cause of Gastroenteritis in Norwalk, Ohio. Human noroviruses are a major cause of Epidemic Gastroenteritis, and Epidemic Gastroenteritis is a major cause of foodborne illness. Outbreaks occur throughout the year, but it is most common in the winter. Causes 19-21 million cases of acute gastroenteritis, and contributes to 56,000-71,000 hospitalizations and 570-800 deaths, mostly among young children and older adults. Responsible for 58% of domestically-acquired foodborne illnesses, and about 50% of foodborne disease outbreaks due to known agents.

In addition, risk assessments should be undertaken for example; each person who has a catheter; PEG feed; pressure sore; or other factor which makes them more susceptible to the risk of infection. Ultimately anyone within the home who can cause infection are subject to risk assessment under the COSHH Regulations and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulation 1992. It is important that infected residents are isolated and infected staff excluded from work, until 48 hours after the symptoms have settled. Management of cases should be planned following a risk assessment, which should consider continence, personal hygiene, overall health, likelihood of physical contact with other residents or their food, the facilities available and the vulnerability of other residents. The local HPU can advise on this process. Infected residents should, if possible, have sole use of a designated toilet or commode as long as their symptoms persist. In the case of a likely norovirus infection, they should keep a designated toilet facility for 48 hours after their symptoms have settled.

Infectious diseases are a hazard in a care home as some of them could be fatal for residents and staff. When staff are looking after residents they should wash their hands before and after entering the room so infections don’t spread between residents and other staff members. Infection can also be controlled by carrying out good hygiene throughout the care home in others ways than washing hands such as making facilities and other rooms are clean for the residents to use and that there is no risk that a resident could pick up an infection from an unhygienic environment. Food hygiene is also important for controlling the risk of infectious disease as infections can be picked up from food so all food should be prepared properly for the residents to

This paper presents the principles of infection control and management of Norovirus outbreak in an aged-care facility. Firstly, a scenario of the case is provided. Also, a brief description of Norovirus and the current trend in Australia is illustrated. It is followed by the three important issues to be addressed relevant to the case: (1) transmission of Norovirus in a nursing home, (2) important precautions to limit the spread of the infection, and (3) special nursing requirements of the elderly patients. In order to manage the outbreak effectively, this paper will assert the importance of rapid detection of outbreak and implementation of good infection control protocol. Furthermore, this paper will also promote the quality of residents

As we know, older residents are susceptible to infections because of multi-morbidity, greater severity of illness, functional impairment, cognitive impairment, incontinence, and the presence of frequent short-term and long-term indwelling device use such as urinary catheters and feeding tubes. For infection prevention control program, an effective infection prevention program includes a method of surveillance for infections and antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, an outbreak control plan for epidemics, isolation and standard precautions, hand hygiene, staff education, an employee health program, a resident health program, policy formation and periodic review with audits, and a policy

Based on the information provided by the CDC and other agencies, as well as data gathered first hand through interaction within communities, public health nurses can advocate for the use of influenza vaccinations by elderly populations. While providing education related to preventive methods and the importance of vaccination, as well as administering vaccinations, public health nurses are key participants in the epidemiological process of seasonal influenza related to the elderly population. In

In this report I will discuss the policy and procedures at a nursing home. I will be specifically looking at infection control during the course of a medication round.

This essay details the transmission of Norovirus and how it may have contaminated areas of the Sunrise Nursing Home. Safeguards and the relevant nursing care needed, along with treatments and prevention plans are also recognized. Ultimately the importance of these elements within

Many instances have been noted that healthcare providers are bringing the infection to the patients and not the patients bring the infection to the staff. Furthermore, It is well documented that nosocomial infection occurs (Rice, 2010) and hospitalized individuals face more complications and greater mortality from influenza. Healthcare providers are indirectly causing undo harm to patients that are more susceptible to infections such as influenza. “In nursing home settings, vaccination of healthcare workers has been shown to decrease morbidity and mortality among nursing home residents” (Babcock, et al., 2010, p. 459). One study suggests that there is a higher rate of occurrence of influenza among healthcare providers than residents. “In elder-care settings, influenza among staff precedes illness among residents, suggesting that health care workers introduce the virus into the setting” (Anikeeva, Braunack-Mayer, & Rogers, 2009, p. 25).

The organism for Norovirus is Viral gastroenteritis. Which causes inflammation of the stomach and small intestines making you vomit and have diarrhea.

To increase patient and hcw safety, health care workers should be mandate to get vaccination. Hcw are more at risk to get infection because of their contact with patient and then to spread it to patients, specially patients who are susceptible to the infection (CITATION). Influenza symptoms appears within 1-4 days. Before even hcw workes know that they have influenza infection and they are contagious, they may spread the infection to patient . Also, if hcw are infected, it will cause impact on their mental and physical functioning. Two randomly conducted studies have supported that mandatory influenza vaccination for hcw helped in decreasing death rate upto 44% in nursing home residents (Ottenberg, 2011). Potter et. al. identified that because of increased staff vaccination mortality rate reduced from 17% to 10% (Suillivan, 2010). The other fact which can effect patient safety due to low rate of vaccination is absenteeism of hcw during influenza epidemic.

The source of the flu vaccines are chickens. People who are allergic to eggs should not receive injectable or nasal spray without a physician’s approval.

Children do not commonly spread this virus to their parents, but it can happen. Among adults who work in a child care setting, this number is likely higher. Since otherwise healthy adults rarely exhibit symptoms or develop complications from exposure to or contraction of the cytomegalovirus, there are no unusual precautions added to their protocol other than those already in place to maintain a hygienic

On reflection I have learned by being with the IPCT the importance of sending samples off when the first episode of diarrhoea and vomiting occurs leasing with team members. The IPCT emphasises prompt screening of suspecting patients for a norovirus as early detection of the signs can prevent an outbreak on the ward. I have become aware that the mode of transmission of norovirus means it is not always possible to avoid becoming infected (Nursing Times 2011). The trust provides mandatory training to inform nursing staff on the most recent infection control measures in practice. Hence, good hygiene and the isolation of infected individuals can limit the spread. Good communication is important with all visitors and staff, including cleaners.