Duration of norovirus excretion and the longitudinal course of viral load in norovirus-infected elderly patients aoki2010duration

This study investigates the duration of norovirus excretion and the viral load in elderly patients with norovirus gastroenteritis. Conducted in aged-care facilities, the study involved 13 elderly patients aged 60-98 years. A total of 63 fecal samples were collected and analyzed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays. The study found that the average period of norovirus excretion was 14.3 days, with viral loads varying significantly over time. The findings suggest that monitoring viral load around 16 days after symptom onset could be useful for managing norovirus infections in such settings.

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