The role of staff and contaminated environmental surfaces in spreading of norovirus infection in a long-term health care facility in Italy

Residents and staff of a geriatric health care facility in Teramo province, developed acute gastroenteritis from March 8th to March 21st 2017. An epidemiological investigation was conducted to identify the etiological agent, the trace back the potential ways of transmission and control the infection. Information on the outbreak was collected through an epidemiological questionnaire. Faecal samples from all human cases (n = 50) and swabs from environmental surfaces were collected and analysed by RT-PCR for the presence of Norovirus (NoV). Among faecal samples, 34 out of 50 were positive for NoV with no other pathogen detected. Norovirus was also detected in 28 of the 122 swabs from environmental surfaces. Staff were considered to play an important role in transmission of NoV. A proper disinfection procedure during the outbreak could have limited dissemination of the viral infection [1].

1. Barker J., Vipond I. B. & Bloomfield S.F. 2004. Effects of cleaning and disinfection in reducing the spread of Norovirus contamination via environmental surfaces. J Hospital Infect, 58, 42-49.

Aprea, G., Di Bartolo, I., Monini, M., D’Angelantonio, D., Scattolini, S., Boni, A., Truglio, G., Di Giacobbe, S., Serio, A., Antoci, S., Di Marzio, V., Migliorati, G., D’Alterio, N., & Pomilio, F. (2021). The role of staff and contaminated environmental surfaces in spreading of norovirus infection in a long-term health care facility in Italy. Veterinaria Italiana, 57(4), 311–318. https://doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.2479.15150.1
https://www.veterinariaitaliana.izs.it/index.php/VetIt/article/view/2479