Abstract
This article describes outbreaks of gastroenteritis in elderly long-term care facilities (LTCF) in France from November 2010 to May 2012 reported through the surveillance system for gastroenteritis outbreaks in LTCF. A total of 1,072 outbreaks were reported, causing 26,551 episodes of illness and 60 deaths. The median attack rate (AR) among residents was 32%. Norovirus and person-to-person transmission were the most frequently reported aetiology and mode of transmission. Control measures were implemented in 1,054 (98%) outbreaks and for 928 outbreaks, the timing of such measures could be inferred. Of these, 799 (86%) had put control measures into effect within three days of the occurrence of the first case. Outbreaks of gastroenteritis in LTCF cause substantial morbidity and mortality among elderly people in France. LTCF are encouraged to develop infection prevention and control plans and to notify any gastroenteritis outbreak to health authorities to ensure rapid control.
Highlights
Outbreaks of gastroenteritis are frequent in elderly long-term care facilities (LTCF)
In 2010, a specific surveillance system for gastrointestinal outbreaks in elderly LTCF was implemented in mainland France as part of a national plan to reduce the risk of infection in healthcare settings [5]
The objectives of the surveillance system were to promote the early notification of outbreaks, to facilitate the implementation of control measures and to describe the epidemiology of outbreaks in elderly LTCF
Summary
Outbreaks of gastroenteritis are frequent in elderly long-term care facilities (LTCF). The objectives of the surveillance system were to promote the early notification of outbreaks, to facilitate the implementation of control measures and to describe the epidemiology of outbreaks in elderly LTCF This system was implemented in addition to the surveillance systems already in operation for the surveillance of acute gastroenteritis in France [6], which include: (i) the surveillance of acute diarrhoeal disease in the general population by the sentinel network of general practitioners since 1990 [7]; (ii) the syndromic surveillance system based on emergency departments morbidity data (OSCOUR) since 2004 [8]; (iii) the notification of gastroenteritis outbreaks in healthcare settings since 2001; (iv) the mandatory notification of foodborne gastroenteritis outbreaks since 1987; and (v) the confirmation and characterisation of enteric viruses at the National Reference Centre (NRC) of enteric viruses
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