Asymptomatic and symptomatic excretion of noroviruses during a hospital outbreak of gastroenteritis

J Clin Microbiol. 2004 May;42(5):2271-4. doi: 10.1128/JCM.42.5.2271-2274.2004.

Abstract

During an investigation of a hospital outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis identified as being caused by a recombinant genogroup II (rGII-3a) strain, fecal specimens collected from asymptomatic staff and patients were tested by nested PCR. A GII-4 norovirus strain, the predominant strain associated with outbreaks in hospitals over the last few years, was detected in 26 and 33% of asymptomatic staff and patients, respectively. No rGII-3a (Harrow/Mexico) norovirus strains were detected in the samples of asymptomatic staff or patients.

MeSH terms

  • Caliciviridae Infections / epidemiology*
  • Caliciviridae Infections / virology*
  • Carrier State / epidemiology
  • Carrier State / virology
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology*
  • Cross Infection / virology*
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Gastroenteritis / epidemiology*
  • Gastroenteritis / virology*
  • Genes, Viral
  • Humans
  • London / epidemiology
  • Norovirus* / classification
  • Norovirus* / genetics
  • Norovirus* / isolation & purification
  • Personnel, Hospital
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • DNA, Viral