Copper Surfaces Could Help Reduce Norovirus Outbreaks

Looking for another tool to help you fight norovirus? Try copper.

According to a new study out the UK, copper surfaces can help prevent outbreaks of norovirus among residents and staff. The researchers found that surfaces made of copper and copper alloy reduced a gene associated with a viral encoded protein. The most effective surfaces were made of at least 60 percent copper.

Last year, 65 percent of nororvirus outbreaks between September and December occurred in long-term care settings.

Vicious New Strain of Norovirus Taking Aim at LTC

The CDC has announced that a potentially dangerous new strain of norovirus is making its way into long-term care facilities across the country. The strain, known as Gll. 4 Sydney, was first identified in Australia last spring and has since spread around the globe. Gll. 4 Sydney accounted for the majority of norovirus outbreaks in the U.S. between September and December, 65 percent of which occurred in LTC facilities.

Gll. 4 noroviruses tend to cause more hospitalizations and deaths than other strains of the virus. Symptoms typically include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach cramping. Other less common symptoms are a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and fatigue.

The CDC recommends taking the following steps to keep norovirus from spreading:

• Clean and disinfect. Use bleach-based cleaners to disinfect contaminated surfaces.
• Wash laundry thoroughly. Immediately remove clothing or linens that are contaminated with vomit or stool. Wear gloves while handling contaminated items and immediately wash your hands after handling them. The items should be washed with detergent at the maximum available cycle length and then machine dried. 
• Practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom or handling diapers and before eating or preparing food. If soap and water aren't available, use a hand sanitizer with an alcohol concentration of at least 60 percent.
• Be careful in the kitchen. Carefully wash all fruits and vegetables and cook shellfish thoroughly before eating them.
• Do not prepare food while infected. The CDC recommends that people with norovirus not prepare food for others while they have symptoms or for three days after they have recovered. 

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Norovirus Mortality, Hospitalizations Linked to Low Staffing Levels

A new report has linked low staffing levels and negative outcomes related to norovirus outbreaks in long-term care facilities.

Researchers at the University of Chicago studied 308 nursing homes that reported a total of 407 norovirus outbreaks to the National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS) between January of 2009 and December of 2010. They found that facilities with lower nurse-hour-to-bed ratios were most at risk for increased mortality and hospitalizations during norovirus outbreaks. An increase in mortality during outbreak periods was limited to homes with less than 0.75 daily registered nurse (RN) hours per bed.

Residents older than 90 experienced the greatest increase in hospitalization and mortality during the norovirus outbreaks.

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