Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 107, Issue 10 , Pages 791-797, October 2008

Clinical Characteristics of Nosocomial Rotavirus Infection in Children in Taiwan

  • Jian-Te Lee

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Yunlin Branch, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Department of Pediatrics, Yunlin Branch, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chun-Nan Lee

      Affiliations

    • Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yunlin Branch, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Pei-Lan Shao

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Yunlin Branch, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Luan-Yin Chang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Yunlin Branch, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chun-Yi Lu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Yunlin Branch, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ping-Ing Lee

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Yunlin Branch, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chun-Min Chen

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Yunlin Branch, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chin-Yun Lee

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Yunlin Branch, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Li-Min Huang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Yunlin Branch, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr Li-Min Huang, Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7/F, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan

Received 20 August 2007; received in revised form 14 November 2007; accepted 13 May 2008.

Background/Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and clinical characteristics of nosocomial rotavirus infection (NRI) among hospitalized children.

Methods

We collected data of children in the Department of Pediatrics with positive stool rotavirus antigen tests. Cases of an admission diagnosis of acute gastroenteritis or a positive stool rotavirus antigen test within 3 days of admission, representing community-acquired infections, were excluded. Both VP4 and VP7 genotyping of the rotaviruses was done.

Results

There were 98 patients who met the inclusion criteria during the 3-year period. The incidence density was 0.58 per 1000 patient-days in our series. Among these patients, 59 (60%) had underlying diseases. The intermediate intensive care unit had the highest incidence density (2.8 per 1000 patient-days). Overcrowding of the care unit, inappropriate hand hygiene, and inadequate isolation and cohorting predisposed to the high rate. Genotypes among 79 (80%) rotaviruses tested showed that 42% belonged to the novel genotype, G9P[8].

Conclusion

NRI may cause significant morbidity in hospitalized children, especially young infants and those with underlying diseases. Infection control with hospital surveillance, strict isolation and cohort care should be adopted to prevent the spread of rotavirus among special care units.

Key Words:  child , nosocomial infections , pediatrics , rotavirus

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PII: S0929-6646(08)60192-8

doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(08)60192-8

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 107, Issue 10 , Pages 791-797, October 2008

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