Gastrointestinal infections

Gastrointestinal infections are infections that affect the digestive system, primarily caused by various bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These infections can result in symptoms like diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and fever. While many gastrointestinal infections are relatively mild and self-limiting, they can have significant consequences for human health, especially among vulnerable populations such as the very young, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems.

The remit of the gastroenteritis and port health team extends to the following areas:

• zoonotic disease
• general gastro-intestinal illness
• water related issues both microbiological and chemical
• food related issues related to human infective diseases
• port health

A multi-disciplinary team includes doctors, nurses and information officers covering  a wide range of problems/issues within remit. Team members also contribute to the acute services team; surveillance of the relevant diseases is an important foundation for team work.

 In relation to the above areas, the activity of the team involves:

• preparation of business plans
• reviewing and updating relevant questionnaires and protocols
• organising education activities
• commenting on the surveillance of disease
• preparation of monthly, quarterly and annual reports
• reviewing the management of outbreaks
• preparation and revision of outbreak plans

Some of the activity is dealt with by a weekly quality assurance meeting.

Where incidence rates are quoted they are per 100,000 population with the population data taken from mid-year estimates published by the Main statistics | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (nisra.gov.uk)