Norovirus Essay

Within the healthcare industry, staff are put face to face with a variety of scenarios almost every day and are increasingly adapting to the situations in hope for improvement to continue a healthy and safe environment in patient care. Many concerns arise in healthcare facilities such as viruses, which are one of the most feared viruses due to its ability to spread at such great speed within little time in close living proximities. An example of an environment in which the spread of any virus is an Aged care facility centre as this is within close living proximities. The most common virus found in aged care centres is the Norovirus which is extremely contagious and has the strength to spread rapidly throughout out the facility. Thus being the circumstance, it is extremely important that staff on duty are aware of the importance of infection control in order to successfully care for an individual.

Norovirus is an extremely contagious virus and anyone has the potential to receive the virus; the young are most vulnerable due to their weak immune system. An individual can carry the virus at any time in their life and can carry the virus more than once. Norovirus is a common digestive system virus which can be the primary cause of vomiting and diarrhoea in the contaminated patient. The breakout of this virus usually occurs in environments that withhold close living proximities, Aged-care centres are a perfect example of this. Norovirus is highly contagious and is often spread from one individual to another through; the skin contact of any material/ body fluid that is contaminated with traces of the virus, contaminated faeces or fluid in the handling process. Association with contaminated for or water can increase the rapid spread of the virus; this may be the cause because carers who may withhold the virus prepare food and water therefore contaminating other materials and passing the virus onto another individual weather it is a patient or another staff member. As aged care facilities reside within close living proximities, there are a variety of ways to contaminate and spread the active virus. a simple way of spreading the virus without knowing is simply having any body contact to an individual whom carries the virus, for example, contaminated surroundings and constant skin contact with a contaminated individual.  Norovirus can be carried throughout the whole digestive system, and when it’s time for a person to excrete urine or faeces, it should be disposed of accordingly as it is still at high risk of transmitting the virus although being excreted.  Although a patient or staff member has recovered from the virus, they are still prone to transmitting or even receiving the virus again as particles of norovirus may still be present. It is advised that the individuals are kept indoors for a further two to three days being cared for; thus limiting its outbreak.  Offcourse prevention and precaution are important in stopping the spread of norovirus. When a virus is detected in a nursing home it is important to have full knowledge of signs and symptoms to successfully have a rapid recovery.