Abstract
Rotavirus (RV) gastroenteritis is found in 40% of our hospitalized pediatric pat. with acute diarrhea. This 3-year experience favorably compares to that of other centres in temperate climates. Nosocomial spread (fecal-oral, resp. droplets) of RV infection among pediatric pat. and medical personnel is well documented and is responsible for 7 % of our RV gastroenteritis cases. Recently, RV outbreaks in neonatal nurseries during RV infections in the community have been reported from Sidney, Melbourne, London and Washington: fecal RV excretion was found in 30-50% and remained asymptomatic in 70-92%. Since April 1983 we conduct a prospective surveillance study for RV infection in our referral 6-bed intensive and 8-bed special care nurseries. From each pat. fecal specimens on admission plus 3x weekly are examined for RV by ELISA technique (Rotazyme). From April to Sept. 1983 we observed RV in the stools of 31 (17.1%) of 181 neonates. In the majority of cases RV was detected between the 1st and 5th day of life and RV excretion lasted from 1 to 3 days only. Careful analysis of clinical and laboratory data revealed that all 31 neonatal RV infections were totally asymptomatic. During the first 6 study months recovery rates remained constant, but there was no community outbreak. Preliminary data during our RV season (winter months) indicate increased incidence also in neonates, but clearly RV related symptoms or signs were never detected. In our experience neonatal RV infection is rather common but of only short duration and extremely benign. It is suggested that both nosocomial spread and immunologic protection might explain these observations.
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Schaad, U., Zbinden, R. Rotavirus infection in hospitalized newborn infants. Pediatr Res 18, 801 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198408000-00062
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198408000-00062