By: Megan Gordon
Infection Prevention and Control
Kate Pegrem
Page 1
, Within this task I am going to produce an information booklet to clearly illustrate the
procedures in place within a hospital to manage an outbreak of infection. The illness
that I am going to use as an example is norovirus.
Norovirus is an infection that causes sudden and unexpected vomiting and
diarrhoea. “Norovirus infection occurs most frequently in closed and crowded
environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools and cruise ships”
(http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/norovirus/basics/definition/con-
20029968 accessed 10/03/2014) Methods of transmission include:
Contact with an infected person
Consuming food/ water contaminated with faecal matter.
Whenever an outbreak of infection is confirmed within a hospital there are various
procedures that must be adhered to in order to reduce the risk of the infection (in this
case norovirus) spreading further. The department of health and the World Health
Organization are responsible for carrying out visits to health and social care settings
ensuring that they are dealing with outbreaks safely and correctly. The department of
health issued health and social care codes of practice that staff must abide by,
ensuring the safety of them and the service users. These policies in place also meet
the legal requirements of legislation.
When an outbreak of norovirus has been confirmed laminated
signage should be placed on the front door of the hospital and
on the doors of infected wards so that visitors are informed of
the outbreak and know not to enter the building. Visitors should
be restricted to essential staff only, to reduce the risk of further
infections and transmissions. All doors that lead to areas that
are infected with norovirus should additionally be kept closed.
“The fewer times that the portal of a closed area is crossed,
the less is the risk of transmission of virus and further spread
to other areas.”
(http://www.his.org.uk/files/9113/7398/0999/Guidelines_for_the_management_of_nor
ovirus_outbreaks_in_acute_and_community_health_and_social_care_settings.pdf
accessed 15/03/2015)
Secondly the head of the hospital or nurse in charge should ensure that all staff are
aware of the outbreak of norovirus and how it is transmitted. He/ She should allocate
certain staff to either an infected area or a non infected area but NOT both, as doing
this would aid in the transmission of the illness. If a member of staff encounters any
signs of symptoms of norovirus themselves then they should stop work and go home
immediately. Any patients and visitors that are affected by the outbreak should also
be provided with information on transmission of norovirus as well as precautions
Page 2
Infection Prevention and Control
Kate Pegrem
Page 1
, Within this task I am going to produce an information booklet to clearly illustrate the
procedures in place within a hospital to manage an outbreak of infection. The illness
that I am going to use as an example is norovirus.
Norovirus is an infection that causes sudden and unexpected vomiting and
diarrhoea. “Norovirus infection occurs most frequently in closed and crowded
environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools and cruise ships”
(http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/norovirus/basics/definition/con-
20029968 accessed 10/03/2014) Methods of transmission include:
Contact with an infected person
Consuming food/ water contaminated with faecal matter.
Whenever an outbreak of infection is confirmed within a hospital there are various
procedures that must be adhered to in order to reduce the risk of the infection (in this
case norovirus) spreading further. The department of health and the World Health
Organization are responsible for carrying out visits to health and social care settings
ensuring that they are dealing with outbreaks safely and correctly. The department of
health issued health and social care codes of practice that staff must abide by,
ensuring the safety of them and the service users. These policies in place also meet
the legal requirements of legislation.
When an outbreak of norovirus has been confirmed laminated
signage should be placed on the front door of the hospital and
on the doors of infected wards so that visitors are informed of
the outbreak and know not to enter the building. Visitors should
be restricted to essential staff only, to reduce the risk of further
infections and transmissions. All doors that lead to areas that
are infected with norovirus should additionally be kept closed.
“The fewer times that the portal of a closed area is crossed,
the less is the risk of transmission of virus and further spread
to other areas.”
(http://www.his.org.uk/files/9113/7398/0999/Guidelines_for_the_management_of_nor
ovirus_outbreaks_in_acute_and_community_health_and_social_care_settings.pdf
accessed 15/03/2015)
Secondly the head of the hospital or nurse in charge should ensure that all staff are
aware of the outbreak of norovirus and how it is transmitted. He/ She should allocate
certain staff to either an infected area or a non infected area but NOT both, as doing
this would aid in the transmission of the illness. If a member of staff encounters any
signs of symptoms of norovirus themselves then they should stop work and go home
immediately. Any patients and visitors that are affected by the outbreak should also
be provided with information on transmission of norovirus as well as precautions
Page 2
