title: Epidemiological study of an outbreak of Norovirus in a rest home in Italy.
abstract: A Norovirus GII.4 (variant 2006) epidemic occurred in a rest home in the Abruzzo region of Italy between January and March 2009. Rest homes are typologically exposed to Norovirus infections as often reported in the literature. The investigation proposed in this article focused on identifying the source of infection and the route of propagation of the virus in the infected rest home. Microbiological, chemical and hygiene/health investigations were conducted on residents and employees of the home and on its water supply. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to identify the habits of the subjects who promoted the spread of the virus, in order to obtain a retrospective view of the event.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, G. Caporale, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy. e.digiannatale@izs.it
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Giannatale
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alessiani
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sauro
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sbraccia
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Croce
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nissim
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carnevale
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Migliorati
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D029322:Norovirus; D009735:Nursing Homes