This week's coverage in Infection Control Today centered on a common thread: the systems, partnerships, and data that let infection prevention teams catch problems before patients are harmed.
|Articles|January 30, 2017
GOJO Shares Tips on How to Reduce the Spread of Norovirus
It's not only cold and flu season; it's also norovirus season. Norovirus typically peaks between December and April, and right now there are wide-spread outbreaks of norovirus cases throughout the United States, according to media reports.
Advertisement
It's not only cold and flu season; it's also norovirus season. Norovirus typically peaks between December and April, and right now there are wide-spread outbreaks of norovirus cases throughout the United States, according to media reports.1
Norovirus Symptoms
Sometimes called the "stomach flu," norovirus is the most common cause of acute viral gastroenteritis around the world, and the most common cause of foodborne illness in the United States.2 Norovirus is highly contagious and can be found in a person's stool even before they start feeling sick and for two weeks after they feel better.3 Symptoms usually appear 12 to 48 hours after first exposure to the virus, and last approximately one to three days. The most common symptoms of norovirus are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain.
Symptoms usually appear 12 to 48 hours after first exposure to the virus, and last approximately one to three days. The most common symptoms of norovirus are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain.
How Norovirus Spreads
Norovirus spreads quickly and rapidly, people can become infected with it by:
• Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus, most likely prepared by an individual who is infected with the virus
• Touching surfaces or objects with norovirus on them and then putting your hand or fingers in your mouth
• Having direct contact with a person who is infected with norovirus, for example, when sharing foods, utensils with them4
Steps to Reduce the Spread of Norovirus
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, follow these steps to reduce the spread of the virus.
1. Practice good hand hygiene. Make sure to wash your hands with soap and water at key moments, especially after using the restroom since the virus can spread through stool. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol can be used in addition to handwashing.
2. Disinfect frequently touched surfaces. Immediately disinfect and clean contaminated surfaces with a disinfectant and cleaner formulated to kill norovirus. For example, PURELL® Surface Sprays are registered with the EPA and effective at killing norovirus on surfaces in 30 seconds.
3. Wash laundry thoroughly
4. Wash fruits and vegetables when preparing food; follow proper food preparation guidelines
5. Do not prepare meals when you are sick2
"Whether you think you might have a cold, flu or norovirus, it's always important to consult a doctor and take precautionary measures to help you and everyone stay healthy," recommends Jim Arbogast, PhD, vice president of hygiene sciences and public health advancements at GOJO.
References:
1 Wall Street Journal, January 24, 2017,
2 Lopman et al. 2016. The Vast and Varied Global Burden of Norovirus: Prospects for Prevention and Control. PLoS Medicine 13(4): e1001999. Available at
3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Norovirus. Retrieved January 26, 2017 from
4 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Norovirus. Retrieved January 24, 2017, from
Source: GOJO Industries
Newsletter
Stay prepared and protected with the Infection Control Today newsletter, delivering essential updates, best practices, and expert insights for infection prevention professionals.
SubscribeAdvertisement
Related to this article
What might infection prevention rounds miss when visible conditions dominate the conversation? Tommy Davis, PhD, CMIP, a member of ICT's executive advisory board, makes the case for structured observations of clinical workflows, shared accountability, and greater attention to environmental services staff’s insights.
Artist and designer Matthew Caliman shares how personal loss inspired the Cleanup Crew, a handwashing education project using cartoon faucets, songs, and games to help families revisit an essential health message.
This week on Infection Control Today, the stories ranged from emerging drug-resistant pathogens circling the globe to a landmark decade of surface science—all against a backdrop of ongoing outbreaks and a hard look at what the profession owes its own workforce.
How do you celebrate an infection that never happened?
That's one of the unusual challenges infection preventionists share with teachers.
Both can spend their careers changing outcomes they may never see. Both educate people who don't always want to listen. Both are second-guessed. Both face burnout. And both must somehow keep remembering why they started.
An imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease in Kenya raises questions about airport screening, clinical recognition, and potential exposures, highlighting the importance of coordinated contact tracing and hospital infection prevention readiness.
Florida’s dengue outbreak highlights the importance of recognizing symptoms, identifying warning signs, and preventing mosquito bites. Ubong Johnson, MD, explains local transmission, diagnostic testing, treatment, and practical prevention measures.
Understanding current water quality is a starting point for ST108 implementation. John Kimsey, vice president of processing optimization and customer success for STERIS, spoke about his HSPA presentation on assessing readiness, distinguishing system qualification from routine testing, and understanding where water samples should be collected.
Advertisement
Advertisement