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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

How timely closure can reduce outbreak duration: gastroenteritis in care homes in North West England, 2012–2016

Authors: Thomas Inns, Alex Keenan, Rita Huyton, John Harris, Miren Iturriza-Gomara, Sarah J. O’Brien, Roberto Vivancos

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Data on outbreaks of infectious gastroenteritis in care homes have been collected using an internet-based surveillance system in North West England since 2012. We analysed the burden and characteristics of care home outbreaks to inform future public health decision-making.

Methods

We described characteristics of care homes and summary measures of the outbreaks such as attack rate, duration and pathogen identified. The primary analysis outcome was duration of closure following an outbreak. We used negative binomial regression to estimate Incidence Rate Ratios (IRR) and confidence intervals (CI) for each explanatory variable.

Results

We recorded 795 outbreaks from 379 care homes (37.1 outbreaks per 100 care homes per year). In total 11,568 cases, 75 hospitalisations and 29 deaths were reported. Closure within three days of the first case (IRR = 0.442, 95%CI 0.366–0.534) was significantly associated with reduced duration of closure. The total size of the home (IRR = 1.426, 95%CI = 1.275–1.595) and the total attack rate (IRR = 1.434, 95%CI = 1.257–1.595) were significantly associated with increased duration of closure.

Conclusions

Care homes that closed promptly had outbreaks of shorter duration. Care home providers, and those advising them on infection control, should aim to close homes quickly to prevent lengthy disruption to services.
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Metadata
Title
How timely closure can reduce outbreak duration: gastroenteritis in care homes in North West England, 2012–2016
Authors
Thomas Inns
Alex Keenan
Rita Huyton
John Harris
Miren Iturriza-Gomara
Sarah J. O’Brien
Roberto Vivancos
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5413-x

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