Gastroenteritis in a RACH

Under the NSW Public Health Act 2010, residential aged care homes are required to notify suspected  and confirmed outbreaks of gastroenteritis to their local public health unit. 

Gastroenteritis outbreak definition 

A gastroenteritis outbreak is defined as two or more people (staff or residents) with new onset of diarrhoea or vomiting at any one time in any institution.  

Actions to follow in a suspected gastroenteritis outbreak

• Isolate symptomatic residents. 
• Follow the Gastro pack guidelines on increasing infection control measures such as:  
  • Personal protective equipment 
  • Cohorting residents and staff to their wings or floors  
  • Excluding symptomatic staff from work until 48 hours have passed since their last episode of vomiting or diarrhoea 
  • Enhanced and increased cleaning and disinfection of contaminated and commonly touched surfaces.
• Inform the home infection control practitioner and home management. 
• Put up signage about the current outbreak that is visible throughout the home. Posters can be printed from the Gastro pack guidelines or the Gastroenteritis kit for aged care webpage. 
• Note that residents, staff and visitors are advised to wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds during a gastroenteritis illness outbreak. Alcohol-based hand sanitiser is not effective against norovirus, a common pathogen causing gastroenteritis.  
• Contact the Public Health Unit by phone (02) 9382 8333 or email. There is no need to wait for test results before contacting the Public Health Unit. 
• Collect faecal specimens for laboratory testing.  
• If transferring a resident (with or without symptoms) to hospital during an outbreak, notify the paramedics and hospital that the home is experiencing a gastrointestinal illness outbreak. 

Monitoring the gastroenteritis outbreak 

• The Public Health Unit will ask the home to complete the online Gastroenteritis outbreak in an Aged Care Home survey.  
• If the outbreak definition is met, the home will be sent a link to submit a list of affected residents and staff with details of their symptoms and test results. The home should keep this list updated over the course of the outbreak.  
• The Public Health Unit will advise when a gastroenteritis outbreak can be declared over. A viral gastroenteritis outbreak can usually be declared over 72 hours after the last episode of vomiting or diarrhea in the last case. 

To contact the Public Health Unit email or phone 02 9382 8333.  

For urgent after-hours advice, call Prince of Wales Hospital switchboard on 02 9382 2222