Fast action to stop gastro
A report from the Department of Health and Ageing highlights the importance of early detection in preventing the spread of norovirus and other bugs in residential aged care.
Senior government medical advisors say that aged care residents with gastroenteritis should be tested as soon as possible to minimise the risk of outbreaks.
The report from the Department of Health and Ageing which was published in the Medical Journal of Australia, said that a single case of gastroenteritis may signal the beginning of an outbreak and should be responded to accordingly.
According to the department’s Martyn Kirk, clinicians should test faecal specimens if residents display symptoms of gastroentiritis.
“Early recognition of the pathogen can guide public health investigations and infection control measures in the facility to minimise the spread and consequences of a potential outbreak,” said Mr Kirk.
When a food-borne pathogen is detected, public health authorities need to be alerted to identify related cases and investigate food sources.
“If norovirus is identified, the focus should be on strict and heightened infection control within the facility,” Mr Kirk said
The report confirmed that on the whole, Australia’s aged care facilities have good infection control in their food services.
“Of the reported gastroenteritis outbreaks in these facilities, only a very small number are the result of contaminated food,” it concluded.
