Incidence of Medically-Attended Norovirus-Associated Acute Gastroenteritis in Four Veteran's Affairs Medical Center Populations in the United States, 2011-2012

PLoS One. 2015 May 21;10(5):e0126733. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126733. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

An estimated 179 million acute gastroenteritis (AGE) illnesses occur annually in the United States. The role of noroviruses in hospital-related AGE has not been well-documented in the U. S. We estimated the population incidence of community- acquired outpatient and inpatient norovirus AGE encounters, as well as hospital-acquired inpatient norovirus AGE among inpatients at four Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers (VAMCs). Fifty (4%) of 1,160 stool specimens collected ≤7 days from symptom onset tested positive for norovirus. During a one year period, the estimated incidence of outpatient, community- and hospital-acquired inpatient norovirus AGE was 188 cases, 11 cases, and 54 cases/ 100,000 patients, respectively. This study demonstrates the incidence of outpatient and community- and hospital-acquired inpatient norovirus AGE among the VA population seeking care at these four VAMCs.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Caliciviridae Infections / epidemiology*
  • Caliciviridae Infections / history
  • Caliciviridae Infections / virology*
  • Cross Infection*
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Female
  • Gastroenteritis / epidemiology*
  • Gastroenteritis / history
  • Gastroenteritis / virology*
  • Genotype
  • History, 21st Century
  • Hospitals, Veterans*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Norovirus* / genetics
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

Funding provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The funders participated in the study design, data analysis, decision to publish, and preparation of the manuscript.