Published Date: 2006-04-12 23:50:00
Subject: PRO> Norovirus, retirement center - USA (WA) (02)
Archive Number: 20060412.1086

NOROVIRUS, RETIREMENT CENTER - USA (WASHINGTON) (02)
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A ProMED-mail post
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Tue 11 Mar 2006
From: Richard Gould <rgould@avdha.nshealth.ca>

A Comment on the Efficiency of Cleaning Agents
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I wonder how often the use of ineffective cleaning agents contributes
to the spread of norovirus outbreaks in institutions? We have
encountered this problem many times in long-term care facilities and
other institutions.
Noroviruses are notoriously resistant to many cleaning agents such as
the quaternary ammonium products commonly used in long-term care
facilities. Yet, the staff tend to be very resistant to using more
effective chlorine products and other effective products that tend to
be more expensive.
The result is that most cleaning serves only to transfer the virus
from surface to surface throughout the institution. Fortunately we
are starting to make some headway with this challenge. A recent
summary about norovirus infection in healthcare facilities prepared
by CDC (Norovirus in Healthcare Facilities, Released 21 Apr 2005) has
been very helpful.
--
J. Richard Gould MD MHSc FRCPC
Medical Officer of Health
SSDHA, SWDHA, AVDHA
23 Earnscliffe Avenue
Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B4P 1X4
<rgould@avdha.nshealth.ca>
[The document referred to by Dr. Gould can be accessed at
<http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/id_norovirusFS.html>.
Strict attention to efficient disinfection procedures has allowed
norovirus-affected cruise ships to be cleaned and turned around
within 48 hours. For example, see "CDC. Vessel Sanitation Program
Operations Manual 2000. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, CDC, 2000". - Mod.CP]

See Also

Norovirus, retirement center - USA (WA) 20060410.1073
Norovirus, cruise ship - Caribbean 20060305.0718
Norovirus outbreak - New Zealand (Dunedin): susp. 20060131.0316
Viral gastroenteritis, cruise ships - USA: backgro... 20060309.0753
Viral gastroenteritis, cruise ships - USA: background 20060306.0727
2005
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Viral gastroenteritis update 2005 (17) 20051210.3561
Viral gastroenteritis update 2005 (16) 20051106.3253
Viral gastroenteritis update 2005 (15) 20051016.3017
Viral gastroenteritis update 2005 (11) 20050624.1768
2004
----
Viral gastroenteritis update 2004 (36) 20041222.3379
Viral gastroenteritis update 2004 (35) 20041210.3275
Viral gastroenteritis update 2004 (29) 20040915.2569
Viral gastroenteritis update 2004 (20) 20040610.1564
Viral gastroenteritis update 2004 (02) 20040127.0317
2003
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Viral gastroenteritis update 2003 (25) 20031114.2826
2002
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Norovirus activity 2002 - USA 20030123.0206
Viral gastroenteritis update 2002 - (04) 20030101.0005
Viral gastroenteritis update 2002 - (01) 20021218.6088
Norwalk-like virus, cruise ship - USA (FL) (15) 20021212.6049
Viral gastroenteritis update 2002 - UK & Ireland (05) 20021128.5913
.........................cp/pg
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