[Study of a disease outbreak in a home for the aged]

Abstract

Objective: To describe an epidemic outbreak in an elderly persons' home.

Design: A descriptive, longitudinal study.

Setting: Elderly persons' home in the Riaza Health District, Segovia.

Patients and participants: 90 elderly people resident at this geriatric centre.

Measurements and main results: Between January 18 and 25, 1995, there was an epidemic outbreak. Some cases had digestive symptoms: diarrhoea and vomiting, but without a temperature. Other cases had respiratory symptoms with temperature, cough, expectoration, breathing difficulty and myalgia. 25 elderly people were affected: 68% suffering the respiratory symptoms; and 32%, the digestive ones. Three people were admitted to hospital and one died. The presence of Rotavirus was found in the faeces of patients with digestive symptoms. The study-period had the highest incidence of flu in this Health District. 20% of the elderly people were not vaccinated for flu.

Conclusions: Elderly persons' homes are an environment which favours the spread of germs which can cause epidemic situations.