Division of Public Health Services,

Communicable Disease Control & Surveillance

Outbreaks of viral gastrointestinal (GI) illness in nursing facilities are of particular concern since the elderly are one of the most suseptible populations.  CDCS makes recommendations for the prevention and control of viral GI illness in nursing facilities.  In Guidelines for the Control of Gastrointestinal Illness in Nursing Homes (2 pages) these recommendations are identified and described in more detail.  The recommendations are summarized below.

• Prevent employee acquisition and transmission of illness;
• Use safeguards with laundry;
• Clean soiled surfaces;
• Minimize contact between well and infected persons;
• Stop renewal of susceptible populatons; and
• Obtain stool cultures.