Guidelines for the investigation of gastroenteritis for Environmental Health Officers

The Guidelines for the investigation of gastroenteritis provide Victorian local government Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) with information to assist in the investigation of outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness in care facilities, children’s services centres, camp facilities, food premises and the investigation of notifiable enteric diseases under the provisions of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.

This publication guides investigators from the time the incident is detected, through the investigational requirements, to the implementation of control measures. Investigating EHOs should take the time to familiarise themselves with all sections of these guidelines as well as each of the industry guides for each care setting so that they are well informed and confident in the investigation process and fully understand the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved in an investigation.

If you suspect that a facility or premises may have an outbreak of gastroenteritis you will need to notify the department on 1300 651 160 as soon as possible. It is important that immediate action be taken to contain each outbreak and prevent further cases occurring.

The guidelines’ contents include:

1.Background
2.Governance
3.Single incident gastroenteritis notifications and clusters
4.Gastroenteritis outbreaks – overview
5.Gastroenteritis outbreaks – notification and assessment
6.Gastroenteritis outbreaks – investigation
7.Gastroenteritis outbreaks – control measures
8.Gastroenteritis outbreaks – documentation, monitoring and communication
9.Laboratory testing during outbreaks and sporadic case investigations