Lessons learned from a norovirus outbreak in a locked pediatric inpatient psychiatric unit.
We report an outbreak of norovirus in a locked pediatric inpatient psychiatric unit with attack rates of 75% among 4 patients and 26% among 38 staff. Factors contributing to the outbreak included environmental contamination, close staff-patient contact including sharing meals, and inability to confine the index patient with the use of contact precautions.
Weber
David J
DJ
Department of Hospital Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Health Care System, USA. dweber@unch.unc.edu
Sickbert-Bennett
Emily E
EE
Vinjé
Jan
J
Brown
Vickie M
VM
MacFarquhar
Jennifer K
JK
Engel
Jeffrey P
JP
Rutala
William A
WA
D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D002648:Child; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications; D029322:Norovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D012637:Security Measures