An unwanted visitor. Aggressive infection control strategies are needed to shorten the hospital visit of the easily spread norovirus.

Norovirus is the name for a group of Norwalk-like viruses that cause acute gastroenteritis of rapid onset. A recent outbreak at a tertiary care facility in Alberta provided an opportunityfor staff and management to review their outbreak protocol and improve their infection prevention and control procedures. The outbreak caused illness in 32 of 73 exposed patients as well as 42 staff members.

A pilot study comparing two methods of intermittent catheterization: limitations and challenges.

Given a complex research design, a pilot study was conducted to compare a closed catheter system for intermittent catheterization to the traditional open system. Based on 33 urine samples for 11 subjects, the closed system yielded fewer positive cultures. Efforts to obtain this preliminary data proved beneficial in identifying unanticipated design limitations that will guide modifications of the main study, which will include multiple centers.