There is an average of 90 outbreaks of gastroenteritis each year in residential care facilities (RCF) in Western Australia. Most of these outbreaks are due to viruses (mostly norovirus or rotavirus) which can spread rapidly through a facility, infecting large numbers of both residents and staff. These viruses can spread by the faecal-oral route, by inhalation of aerosolised virus (eg from vomitus) or via hands touching contaminated surfaces or people. Below are links to fact sheets, guidelines and forms that will help staff prevent and control gastroenteritis outbreaks.
- Report gastroenteritis clusters or outbreaks (2 or more linked cases above the usual number of cases in the facility) to your local public health unit.
- Ill staff should be excluded from work (see WA Health operational directive) until they have been asymptomatic with normal stools for 48 hours.
Guidelines
1. The WA guidelines for the management of gastroenteritis outbreaks in residential care facilities (PDF 960KB) provides recommendations for preventing, managing and reporting gastroenteritis outbreaks.
Outbreak reporting forms (see guidelines for how to use the forms) and the wall poster are listed below:
2. The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing Gastro-Info Outbreak Coordinators's Handbook also contains a useful section on outbreak preparedness.
