Table 2 shows data on the initial management of diarrhoea.
One third of homes that answered this question
reported isolating residents after two to three episodes of
diarrhoea in a 24 h period, with 15% reporting that they
never isolated residents. Most nursing homes (92.8%) and
71.7% of residential homes reported that gloves and aprons were always worn when entering the room of an
affected resident. Over a fifth (21.9%) of residential care
homes did not answer this question. Stool samples were
sent within the first 24 h of onset of diarrhoea in 37% of
nursing homes and 18% of residential homes, although
most homes reported waiting beyond 24 h. Almost half
(42.2%) of residential homes reported that they would
only send a stool sample for testing on the request of a
general practitioner (GP).