Epidemiological and genetic characteristics of norovirus outbreaks in long-term care facilities, 2003-2006

N A Rosenthal; L E Lee; B A J Vermeulen; K Hedberg; W E Keene; M-A Widdowson; P R Cieslak; J Vinjé

doi:10.1017/S095026881000083X

Epidemiological and genetic characteristics of norovirus outbreaks in long-term care facilities, 2003-2006

N A Rosenthal, L E Lee, B A J Vermeulen, K Hedberg, W E Keene, M-A Widdowson, P R Cieslak, J Vinjé

Institute of Tropical Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › A1: Web of Science-article › peer-review

Abstract

To identify the epidemiological and genetic characteristics of norovirus (NoV) outbreaks and estimate the impact of NoV infections in an older population, we analysed epidemiological and laboratory data collected using standardized methods from long-term care facilities (LTCFs) during 2003-2006. Faecal specimens were tested for NoV by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. NoV strains were genotyped by sequencing. Of the 234 acute gastroenteritis (AGE) outbreaks reported, 163 (70%) were caused by NoV. The annual attack rate of outbreak-associated NoV infection in LTCF residents was 4%, with a case-hospitalization rate of 3·1% and a case-fatality rate of 0·5%. GII.4 strains accounted for 84% of NoV outbreaks. Median duration of illness was longer for GII.4 infections than non-GII.4 infections (33 vs. 24 h, P<0·001). Emerging GII.4 strains (Hunter/2004, Minerva/2006b, Terneuzen/2006a) gradually replaced the previously dominant strain (Farmington Hills/2002) during 2004-2006. NoV GII.4 strains are now associated with the majority of AGE outbreaks in LTCFs and prolonged illness in Oregon.

Original language	English
Journal	Epidemiology and Infection
Volume	139
Issue number	2
Pages (from-to)	286-294
Number of pages	9
ISSN	0950-2688
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S095026881000083X
Publication status	Published - 2011

Keywords

Caliciviridae Infections/epidemiology
Disease Outbreaks
Genotype
Humans
Long-Term Care
Norovirus/genetics
Residential Facilities/organization & administration
Seasons

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title = "Epidemiological and genetic characteristics of norovirus outbreaks in long-term care facilities, 2003-2006",

abstract = "To identify the epidemiological and genetic characteristics of norovirus (NoV) outbreaks and estimate the impact of NoV infections in an older population, we analysed epidemiological and laboratory data collected using standardized methods from long-term care facilities (LTCFs) during 2003-2006. Faecal specimens were tested for NoV by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. NoV strains were genotyped by sequencing. Of the 234 acute gastroenteritis (AGE) outbreaks reported, 163 (70%) were caused by NoV. The annual attack rate of outbreak-associated NoV infection in LTCF residents was 4%, with a case-hospitalization rate of 3·1% and a case-fatality rate of 0·5%. GII.4 strains accounted for 84% of NoV outbreaks. Median duration of illness was longer for GII.4 infections than non-GII.4 infections (33 vs. 24 h, P<0·001). Emerging GII.4 strains (Hunter/2004, Minerva/2006b, Terneuzen/2006a) gradually replaced the previously dominant strain (Farmington Hills/2002) during 2004-2006. NoV GII.4 strains are now associated with the majority of AGE outbreaks in LTCFs and prolonged illness in Oregon.",

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T1 - Epidemiological and genetic characteristics of norovirus outbreaks in long-term care facilities, 2003-2006

AU - Rosenthal, N A

AU - Lee, L E

AU - Vermeulen, B A J

AU - Hedberg, K

AU - Keene, W E

AU - Widdowson, M-A

AU - Cieslak, P R

AU - Vinjé, J

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - To identify the epidemiological and genetic characteristics of norovirus (NoV) outbreaks and estimate the impact of NoV infections in an older population, we analysed epidemiological and laboratory data collected using standardized methods from long-term care facilities (LTCFs) during 2003-2006. Faecal specimens were tested for NoV by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. NoV strains were genotyped by sequencing. Of the 234 acute gastroenteritis (AGE) outbreaks reported, 163 (70%) were caused by NoV. The annual attack rate of outbreak-associated NoV infection in LTCF residents was 4%, with a case-hospitalization rate of 3·1% and a case-fatality rate of 0·5%. GII.4 strains accounted for 84% of NoV outbreaks. Median duration of illness was longer for GII.4 infections than non-GII.4 infections (33 vs. 24 h, P<0·001). Emerging GII.4 strains (Hunter/2004, Minerva/2006b, Terneuzen/2006a) gradually replaced the previously dominant strain (Farmington Hills/2002) during 2004-2006. NoV GII.4 strains are now associated with the majority of AGE outbreaks in LTCFs and prolonged illness in Oregon.

AB - To identify the epidemiological and genetic characteristics of norovirus (NoV) outbreaks and estimate the impact of NoV infections in an older population, we analysed epidemiological and laboratory data collected using standardized methods from long-term care facilities (LTCFs) during 2003-2006. Faecal specimens were tested for NoV by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. NoV strains were genotyped by sequencing. Of the 234 acute gastroenteritis (AGE) outbreaks reported, 163 (70%) were caused by NoV. The annual attack rate of outbreak-associated NoV infection in LTCF residents was 4%, with a case-hospitalization rate of 3·1% and a case-fatality rate of 0·5%. GII.4 strains accounted for 84% of NoV outbreaks. Median duration of illness was longer for GII.4 infections than non-GII.4 infections (33 vs. 24 h, P<0·001). Emerging GII.4 strains (Hunter/2004, Minerva/2006b, Terneuzen/2006a) gradually replaced the previously dominant strain (Farmington Hills/2002) during 2004-2006. NoV GII.4 strains are now associated with the majority of AGE outbreaks in LTCFs and prolonged illness in Oregon.

KW - Caliciviridae Infections/epidemiology

KW - Disease Outbreaks

KW - Genotype

KW - Humans

KW - Long-Term Care

KW - Norovirus/genetics

KW - Residential Facilities/organization & administration

KW - Seasons

U2 - 10.1017/S095026881000083X

DO - 10.1017/S095026881000083X

M3 - A1: Web of Science-article

C2 - 20412611

SN - 0950-2688

VL - 139

SP - 286

EP - 294

JO - Epidemiology and Infection

JF - Epidemiology and Infection

IS - 2

ER -

Epidemiological and genetic characteristics of norovirus outbreaks in long-term care facilities, 2003-2006

Abstract

Keywords

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