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Gastro Info Kit Information Sheet 1 - Recognising and Managing Gastroenteritis

Gastro Info Kit - Recognising and Managing Gastroenteritis Poster and transcript

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Activity and What to do

Gastroenteritis suspected?

• A gastroenteritis outbreak is defined as 2 or more cases of vomiting or diarrhoea over a 24 hour period
• Inform your Senior Nursing staff on duty

Nominate an Outbreak Coordinator

Name:
Ph:
Pager:

Implement infection control precautions immediately

• Seek advice of an expert in infection control – internal or external (your PHU may be able to advise)
• Increase hygiene measures: especially hand hygiene & environmental cleaning
• Isolate infected residents if possible
• Notify families & other residents

Restrict contact & prevent spread

• Strict hygiene measures, eg. hand hygiene, PPE
• Isolate or cohort residents if possible
• Limit staff & visitor movement into restricted area
• Infected staff off work
• Suspend all group activities

Notify

• Your State/Territory Population Health Dept
• Your State/Territory office of Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing
• Resident’s GP, all staff, all visiting GPs, allied health workers, volunteers, or anyone in contact with your facility

Collect specimens

• Observe standard infection control practices and wear personal protective equipment, eg. gloves, gown, mask
• Collect faecal or vomit specimens in specimen jars (faecal specimens preferable)
• Label specimens & complete pathology request form
• Store specimens in refrigerator – not in a food fridge! – until collected by pathology lab.

Document

List cases – up-date daily:

• Details of residents, staff with symptoms
• Onset date of symptoms of gastroenteritis for each
• Their contacts – to identify “at risk” groups

Complete your legislative requirements

• Refer to your State/Territory public health legislation for your on-going responsibilities & reporting requirements for the duration of the outbreak

Wash and dry hands before & after contact with affected residents
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