Guidelines for the management of norovirus outbreaks in acute and community health and social care settings

The Journal of Hospital Infection has published Guidelines for the management of norovirus outbreaks in acute and community health and social care settings

Exec summary: Norovirus remains the most prevalent gastrointestinal pathogen. Outbreaks in healthcare and non-healthcare settings are still reported, and norovirus is estimated to cost the UK National Health Service (NHS) more than £100 million annually. Previous UK guidelines [1] were published over a decade ago, and new knowledge and technologies have since emerged. These updated guidelines focus on infection prevention and control (IPC) principles which aim to reduce the norovirus burden in health, care and social settings (e.g. acute hospitals, nursing and residential homes, child care, day centres and prisons), while maintaining essential services and minimizing disruptions during the outbreaks. Specifically, they discuss the currently available evidence for outbreak prevention, outbreak control at ward/unit level and the management of infected individuals. Additionally, the guidelines highlight the poor quality of evidence that underpins the current IPC strategies for controlling norovirus outbreaks, and emphasize the gaps in knowledge with recommendations for future research.