national guidelines on the management of outbreaks of norovirus ...
national guidelines on the management of outbreaks of norovirus ...
national guidelines on the management of outbreaks of norovirus ...
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Nati<strong>on</strong>al Guidelines <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> Management <strong>of</strong> Outbreaks <strong>of</strong> Norovirus Infecti<strong>on</strong> in Healthcare Settings NDSC<br />
4. Specific Preventi<strong>on</strong> and C<strong>on</strong>trol<br />
Measures<br />
There are two principal areas in which <strong>norovirus</strong> transmissi<strong>on</strong> in a hospital may be c<strong>on</strong>trolled:<br />
1. The point at which <strong>norovirus</strong>es may be introduced into hospital<br />
2. C<strong>on</strong>tainment at individual ward level and preventi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> spread to o<strong>the</strong>r wards<br />
4.1 The Point at which Noroviruses may be Introduced into Hospital<br />
Increased hospital attendance is a factor in <strong>the</strong> development and sustaining <strong>of</strong> <strong>outbreaks</strong> <strong>of</strong> illness due to<br />
<strong>norovirus</strong>. If an outbreak <strong>of</strong> illness due to <strong>norovirus</strong> is suspected, it is important that c<strong>on</strong>tingencies are<br />
available to minimise hospital numbers. The effects <strong>of</strong> noroviral infecti<strong>on</strong> can be minimised by reducti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> susceptible pool <strong>of</strong> patients (particularly elderly patients) by <strong>the</strong>ir discharge or transfer to step-down<br />
facilities. This will also provide increased capacity within hospitals to allow more effective cohorting <strong>of</strong><br />
patients.<br />
4.2 C<strong>on</strong>tainment at Individual Ward Level<br />
The principal methods to minimise spread at individual ward level are (see box 2): 15<br />
1. Isolati<strong>on</strong> and cohorting <strong>of</strong> affected patients<br />
2. Scrupulous hand hygiene and<br />
3. Rapid cleansing and dec<strong>on</strong>taminati<strong>on</strong> following episodes <strong>of</strong> vomiting and diarrhoea.<br />
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