Mrs. Fiona De Sousa1
1LGH / Hospitals North, Launceston, Australia
Biography:
Fiona De Sousa is a credentialed ICP with a Masters of Advanced Practice in Nursing – Infection Control from Griffith University.
With 20 years experience in infection prevention and control Fiona is Nurse Manager of the Infection Prevention and Control Unit, Hospitals
North, based at the Launceston General Hospital.
Abstract:
Problem
Historically once an organism (e.g. Norovirus) is identified in a gastroenteritis outbreak, stool testing ceases and the outbreak is managed by symptom monitoring. But is it right to assume that all the symptomatic patients really have the outbreak organism?
What we did
To answer this question stool specimen collection and testing was undertaken for all symptomatic patients in a Norovirus outbreak in 2023. Repeat testing was done for patients with ongoing symptoms and initial negative results.
Results
In 2023 a Norovirus outbreak was declared. From five symptomatic patients three tested positive for norovirus and two were Norovirus negative and nil other organism was detected.
Between 2023 and May 2025
• 129 stool specimens have been associated with Norovirus outbreaks.
• 38% (49 tests) have tested positive for Norovirus
• 62% (80 tests) have tested negative for Norovirus
• 1 Clostridioides difficile positive isolate identified
Conclusion
Just because a patient is displaying symptoms of gastroenteritis in a Norovirus outbreak does not mean it is Norovirus. Using symptom identification as a marker for outbreak length can lead to extended outbreak times and unnecessary bed closures.
Lessons learnt
• Test everyone
• Save bed days and close outbreaks earlier