A nosocomial outbreak of norovirus infection masquerading as clostridium difficile infection.
Noroviruses (NoVs) are increasingly being recognized as important enteric pathogens. At a university-based hospital, we investigated a nosocomial outbreak of NoV infection that was originally attributed to Clostridium difficile. We describe here the unique challenges of the identification of NoVs as the true etiologic pathogen in an outbreak occurring in a health care setting, where C. difficile infection is endemic, as well as the important lessons learned.
Koo
Hoonmo L
HL
Baylor College of Medicine, University of Texas-Houston School of Public Health, Houston, Texas, USA.
Ajami
Nadim J
NJ
Jiang
Zhi-Dong
ZD
Dupont
Herbert L
HL
Atmar
Robert L
RL
Lewis
Debra
D
Byers
Patricia
P
Abraham
Paula
P
Quijano
Ricardo A
RA
Musher
Daniel M
DM
Young
Edward J
EJ
D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D029322:Norovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*