Bartlett Regional | HouseCalls | Summer 2017

www.bartletthospital.org 7 infectious processes in patients and what is going on with them and trends,” Gribbon says. “Part of my job is knowing what is coming into the community, being ready for it and then assessing it.” Gribbon starts her day in the emergency department. She says, “The first thing I look at is who and what is coming through the door. Any trends? Then I look at who has been admitted to the hospital. What do they have?” She looks at blood tests, cultures and stool samples to identify any contagious viruses or infections. And what’s the best way to contain a virus or infection? Gribbon offers the same advice she gives to patients and staff: “Stay vigilant. Wash your hands, and minimize touching your face and ‘high-touch’ surfaces.” Contact with people and surfaces that may have germs can make you sick. The most common viruses are various strains of the flu and viruses that affect the gastrointestinal system. Norovirus The summer cruise ship season brings about a million visitors to Southeast Alaska and with it the contagious norovirus, which spreads easily in closed environments where people are clustered together. The virus causes inflammation of the stomach or intestines, known as acute gastroenteritis. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps. Norovirus can be transmitted through infected people, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. While norovirus crops up on a handful of cruise ships each summer, it is suspected to make appearances in classrooms all year. “That virus can be alive on a surface that a person touches,” Gribbon says. “You can pick up the virus if you then touch one of your mucous membranes.” But specifically diagnosing norovirus is clinically difficult, and the state of Alaska does not keep track of the number of norovirus cases. “Norovirus is not a reportable condition to the state,” writes Donna Fearey, Alaska Division of Public Health Nurse Epidemiologist. “However, clusters or outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis are reportable conditions by health care providers, and the section of epidemiology will investigate these events.” Washing your hands is the best way to get rid of germs. It’s especially important to wash your hands after you sneeze or cough. Here’s how to wash the right way: Handwashing how-to 4 Rinse off! Rinse your hands well to send all the soap and germs down the drain. 3 Sing a little song! Don’t just do a quick rinse. Wash long enough to sing “Happy Birthday” twice. 2 Scrub up! Rub your hands together and make lots of bubbles to scrub away dirt and germs. 1 Dive in! Put your hands under running water and use soap. 5 Dry those hands! Don’t just wipe those wet hands on your clothes. Dry your hands well with a clean towel or paper towels. Bye! Happy birthday tome —Continued on page 8 KEEPING WELL