title: Laboratory-based strategy using a new marketed polymerase chain reaction assay to manage diarrheic episodes among patients from rehabilitation and long-term care facilities.
abstract: Management of Norovirus and Clostridium difficile gastroenteritis is challenging for rehabilitation and long-term care facilities. We evaluated the contribution of a 2-step laboratory-based strategy, including a new ready-to-use Norovirus polymerase chain reaction assay to promote isolation precautions. C difficile and Norovirus were successively identified from 17% and 23% of 52 episodes of diarrhea, respectively, during the winter season, leading to 100% adequate isolation measures. In patient populations with numerous risk factors for diarrhea, a combined laboratory-based approach could improve infection control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, University Hospital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: Maud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salmona
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection Control, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, University Hospital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France; University Paris East Créteil, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jolivet
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, University Hospital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duprilot
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection Control, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Emile-Roux Hospital, Limeil-Brevannes, France.
authors.forename: Anani Clément
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Akpabie
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, University Hospital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France; University Paris East Créteil, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: Slim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fourati
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, University Hospital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France; University Paris East Créteil, Créteil, France. Electronic address: jean-winoc.decousser@hmn.aphp.fr.
authors.forename: Jean-Winoc
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Decousser
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D029322:Norovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Clostridium difficile; Norovirus; Xpert assay; diarrhea; infection control; outbreak; polymerase chain reaction diagnosis