2. SEARCH METHODOLOGY
• Used the 6S Search Pyramid
• “Synopses of Synthesis” section: used “The Community Guide” and “Health
Evidence”
• “Single Studies” section: used Medline: OVID (accessed from Conestoga
College LRC)
• Limitations of this Rapid Review
3. SUMMARY OF RAPID REVIEW
• Norovirus causes acute gastroenteritis (inflammation of stomach and
intestines)
• Symptoms include: vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain
• Symptoms begin 12-48 hours after infection, end 1-3 days after symptoms
begin
• Infection can happen because of: eating and drinking contaminated products,
touching surfaces or objects that are contaminated and then touching your
mouth, or having contact with someone who is infected
• Norovirus can survive temperatures as high as 140℉, temperatures below
freezing, quick steaming processes and can remain on surfaces for up to two
weeks
4. SUMMARY OF RAPID REVIEW
• Norovirus causes 65% of all known foodborne illnesses annually
• 90% of norovirus outbreaks emerge from a food preparation setting
• Infectious fast food workers account for approximately 70% of the foodborne
norovirus outbreaks
• 1 in 5 food workers in restaurants reported that they went to work while
vomiting or having diarrhea
• A fear of job loss and financial insecurity were identified as factors that
influenced their decision to stay at work
5. SUMMARY OF RAPID REVIEW
• Majority of norovirus outbreaks occur from food preparation services like
restaurants
• Food workers identify as a primary source of contamination with bare hand
contact with ready to eat food
• Researchers have concluded that there is a growing correlation between
norovirus outbreaks and food handlers
• Solutions that involve job protection and financial security have potential for
stopping further outbreaks of norovirus
6. RESEARCH PROPOSAL
• Research Question: Can the amount of sick days a food service workers has
influence their decision to stay home when they are sick?
• Qualitative study: One on one interview with yes/no questions and one short
answer question
• Before the interview begins, the participant would be notified of the ethics
regarding the survey
• After the interview is completed, the individuals would receive an honorarium
for their participation
• The interviews would be held over the course of 6 months, and data would be
complied and analyzed as the interviews are conducted
7. REFERENCES
• Chai, L., Hidayah, M., Mohamad Ghazali, F., Son, R., Tunung, R., & Zainazor, C. (2010). The Scenario of Norovirus Contamination in Food and Food Handlers. Journal of
Microbiology and Biotechnology, 20(2), 229-237. Retrieved from http://www.jmb.or.kr/journal/viewJournal.html?year=2010&vol=20&num=2&page=229
• Gould, H., Hall, A., Pringle, K., Parashar, U. & Wikswo, M. (2014). Vital Signs: Foodborne Norovirus Outbreaks — United States, 2009–2012. Morbidity and Mortality
Weekly Report (MMWR), 63(22), 491-495. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6322a3.htm
• Hall, A., Eisenbart, V., Etingüe, A., Gould, L., Lopman, B., & Parashar, U. (2012). Epidemiology of Foodborne Norovirus Outbreaks, United States, 2001–2008. Emerg. Infect.
Dis., 18(10), 1566-1573. http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1810.120833
• Lin, Y., Hipfl, E., Lederer, I., Allerberger, F., & Schmid, D. (2015). A norovirus GII.P21 outbreak in a boarding school, Austria 2014. International Journal of Infectious
Diseases, 37, 25-29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2015.05.021
• Mojtehedzandeh, S. (2016). Ontario lagging on paid sick days, leaving low-wage workers stranded | Toronto Star. Toronto Star. Retrieved 31 August 2016, from
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/03/22/ontario-lagging-on-paid-sick-days-leaving-low-wage-workers-stranded.html
• Norovirus | Burden of Norovirus Illness and Outbreaks | CDC. (June 24, 2016). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 25 August 2016, from
http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/php/illness-outbreaks.html
• Norovirus - Fact sheet. (2016). Public Health Agency of Canada. (June 3, 2014) Retrieved 25 August 2016, from http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fs-sa/fs-fi/norovirus-eng.php
• Norovirus | Preventing Norovirus Infection | CDC. (June 24, 2016). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 24 August 2016, from
http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/preventing-infection.html
• Norovirus | Symptoms | CDC. (June 24, 2016). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 24 August 2016, from
http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/symptoms.html
• Norovirus | Symptoms | CDC. (June 24, 2016). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 24 August 2016, from
http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/symptoms.html
• Yearly food-borne illness estimates for Canada. (July 5, 2016). Healthycanadians.gc.ca. Retrieved 25 August 2016, from
http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/eating-nutrition/risks-recalls-rappels-risques/surveillance/illness-estimates-estimations-maladies/yearly-annuel-eng.php
