Question

A Norovirus Outbreak Among Nurses

Working night shifts at the emergency department, Gretchen avoided children with projectile vomiting because it made her queasy. She asked her friends if she could trade the child with diarrhea and vomiting for the older gentleman with kidney stones. Except for the occasional teasing from her coworkers, the system worked, until the gastroenteritis outbreak in the daycare facilities in the area.

REVIEW

1.  List two viral pathogens that cause gastroenteritis.

2.  How would a child with gastroenteritis typically be treated?

As the week progressed and more children were treated in the hospital, Gretchen noticed that her coworkers began to call in sick. Handling a gastroenteritis outbreak was not unusual for the emergency department, but losing most of the nursing staff to illness in the process was. The gastroenteritis outbreak had spread to the emergency department staff. During the peak of the outbreak, Gretchen and only one other nurse from her shift were healthy and able to work.

As those that were ill returned to work, one of her friends commented, “We've treated plenty of gastroenteritis cases before, so I can't figure out how so many of us got sick. What do you think was different about this one?”

“The only thing I can figure out it that it must have been a norovirus outbreak,” replied Gretchen. “Why else would so many adults get sick?”

3.  How could norovirus be transmitted to the nursing staff?

4.  Why does norovirus infect both adults and children?

5.  How could the nurse in the photo reduce the risk for acquiring norovirus?

Answer 1

1) List two viral pathogens that cause gastroenteritis?

a) Rotavirus:- rotavirus cause gastroenteritis especially in children. It spread through faecl-oral route.

b) Norovirus:- norovirus gastroenteritis is caused mainly by Norovirus which spread by ingesting contaminated food or fluids causes watery stools.It causes sudden severe vomiting and diarrhoea and contagious.

2) How would a child with gastroenteritis typically be treated?

Gasteroenteritis is the inflammation of bowel causing diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting.It can be due to bacterial,viral or parasitic.If the child does not get enough fluid,it can lead to dehydration.Hence, primary aim of the treatment is to prevent dehydration.

A child with gasteroenteritis can be treated by keeping the child well hydrated by providing adequate fluids. In case the child has nausea or vomiting, small frequent fluids can be given.Also, encourage the child to take rest and monitor the child closely for further signs of infection such as fever.

3) How could norovirus be transmitted to nursing staff?

Norovirus can be transmitted through faecl-oral route.Among the nursing staff,it may be transmitted due to lack of hand hygiene.Hand washing is important as nurses handle patients with different disease condition. Another reason would be improper washing of nurses scrubs as it may contain infected vomitus or faecal material,if they come in contact with infected patients.Also, unnecessary touching of face and nose with infected hands cause the virus to enter in the body.

4)Why does norovirus infect both adults and children?

Norovirus spread from person to person with contaminated food and fluids.Therefore,infected food and fluid taken by the people get the disease.