Care Home Acute Norovirus Gastroenteritis Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Study to investigate the burden and transmission of acute gastroenteritis in care homes on Merseyside
IRAS ID
208468
Contact name
Thomas Inns
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 9 months, 5 days
Research summary
Norovirus is the most common cause of acute gastrointestinal illness. The elderly, particularly those in long term care, are severely affected by acute gastrointestinal illness. We want to find out more about acute gastroenteritis in care homes so we have the best information to prevent it in future. We aim to estimate the burden of acute gastroenteritis on those in care homes and understand how people get infected with norovirus infection in this setting. \n\nThe study will take place in care homes in Liverpool and Sefton. In care homes, we want to find out how often people have gastrointestinal illness, what bug is causing it, what the risk factors are for getting norovirus and whether the composition of bugs in people’s tummies affects their chance of being ill. To better understand how people in care homes get infected with bugs we will collect information on which, how many and how long different people come into contact with each other for. If there are any outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness during the study, we want to find out what may have caused them, and what the impact of that is on the care home. The study will last for two consecutive winter seasons (November to April).
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0541
Date of REC Opinion
10 Oct 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion