An outbreak of viral gastroenteritis in a psychiatric hospital.
In September and October 1987, an outbreak of gastroenteritis due to small round structured viruses occurred in a large psychiatric hospital. A total of 149 people, 83 patients and 66 members of staff, were affected over a 26-day period. Most cases were associated with three psychogeriatric wards. The outbreak highlighted the special problems of infection control in long-stay psychiatric units and methods of overcoming these difficulties are discussed.
Mitchell
E
E
PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, London, UK.
O'Mahony
M
M
McKeith
I
I
Sprott
M S
MS
Codd
A A
AA
Wright
A G
AG
D000368:Aged; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006113:United Kingdom; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission