Can rotavirus be transmitted through soiled diapers?

Rotavirus Transmission Through Soiled Diapers

Yes, you can get rotavirus gastroenteritis from handling your daughter's dirty nappies, as rotavirus is transmitted primarily through the fecal-oral route and infected children shed massive quantities of virus in their stool. 1

Transmission of Rotavirus

• Rotavirus is transmitted primarily by the fecal-oral route, both through close person-to-person contact and through fomites (contaminated objects and surfaces) 1
• Infected children shed extremely high concentrations of virus in their stool - up to 10¹² virus particles per gram of stool during acute illness 1
• Very few infectious virus particles are needed to cause disease in susceptible hosts 1
• Rotavirus can survive for several days on nonporous materials, especially in conditions of low temperature and humidity, allowing fomites to contribute to transmission 1
• Spread is common within families, with 30%-50% of adult contacts of infected children becoming infected, although infections in adults are often asymptomatic due to immunity from previous exposure 1

Risk of Transmission from Nappies/Diapers

• Handling soiled nappies without proper hygiene measures puts you at high risk for contracting rotavirus 1, 2
• Hands that have been contaminated directly from soiled diapers or from contaminated surfaces are the most likely means by which enteric viruses are transmitted 1
• Contaminated surfaces from spattered or aerosolized material may play a role in transmission of rotavirus 1
• The virus can remain viable on surfaces, making transmission through contaminated hands and objects a significant risk 2

Prevention Measures

• Vigorous handwashing with soap is the most important preventive measure and should be performed consistently after handling soiled nappies 1

  • Rub all surfaces of lathered hands together vigorously for at least 10 seconds with plain soap or an antimicrobial-containing product 1
  • Thoroughly rinse hands under a stream of water 1

• When changing diapers or handling potentially infectious material:

  • Consider wearing disposable plastic gloves, especially when dealing with diarrheal stools 1
  • If contamination of clothing with fecal material is possible, consider wearing protective garments 1
  • Properly dispose of soiled nappies in a sanitary manner 1

• Clean and disinfect surfaces that have been soiled by feces:

  • First clean visible material from surfaces 1
  • Then disinfect with an appropriate commercial germicidal product according to manufacturer's instructions 1
  • Detergents are effective at inactivating rotavirus and should be used for laundering fecally contaminated items 1

• Handle soiled linens and clothes with minimal agitation to prevent microbial contamination of the air and persons handling them 1

  • Transport laundry in an enclosed and sanitary manner (e.g., in a plastic bag if wet or moist) 1
  • Machine wash with detergent using the maximum cycle length and then machine dry 1

Important Considerations

• If you develop rotavirus gastroenteritis, symptoms typically begin with fever and vomiting, followed by watery diarrhea 24-48 hours later 1
• Symptoms generally resolve in 3-7 days 1
• If you are caring for a child with rotavirus, you should avoid preparing food for others for at least 2 days after resolution of your symptoms if you become infected 1
• The risk of dehydration is the main concern with rotavirus infection, particularly in young children 3
• Seek medical attention if signs of severe dehydration develop, such as decreased urine output, dry mouth and tongue, sunken eyes, or unusual drowsiness 3

Remember that nearly every child in the United States is infected with rotavirus by age 5 years, making it an extremely common childhood infection 1. Taking proper hygiene precautions when handling soiled nappies is essential to reduce your risk of infection.