Abstract
Limited information about the impact of viral infections in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) represents an important gap. On 30 December 1992 onset of acute respiratory illness with lobar Pneumonia, fever and oxygen deficit was observed in a full-term hospitalized newborn who was admitted to NICU six weeks ago with meconium ileus and M. Hirschprung diseases. In spite of isolation of the male infant in the unit, five neonates became ill with coryza and fever after 6 days of his isolation. Of the six neonates, three were full-term male newborn suffering from humerus fracture, mucoviscidosis, congenital vitium cordis for 6, 14 and 26 days, respectively. The other two sick female neonates were nursed for 41 and 10 days, respectively, in Unit of Premature infants. Adenovirus infection was proved from nose and fecal samples by virus isolation and immunofluorescence assay of all sick newborns. In male infants, particularly, the viral infection associated with serious complications. All of them developed pneumonia and onw was lost. Rigorous triage and cohorting of staff and babies were started and the nosocomial outbreak abruptly stopped on 19 January. It was concluded that health care workers could be important contributors to the nosocomial spread of adenovirus infection to newborns. Attention is called to the importance of effective preventive measures and well-trained staff in NICU to decrease the risk of nosocomial viral infections.
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Ruppers, F., Szücs, G., Uj, M. et al. 200 NOSOCOMIAL TRANSMISSION OF ADENOVIRUS INFECTIONIN NEONATES. Pediatr Res 36, 36 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199407000-00200
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199407000-00200