Adenovirus cross

TY - JOUR

T1 - Adenovirus cross-infection

T2 - A continuing problem

AU - Klapper, P. E.

AU - Cleator, G. M.

PY - 1995/6

Y1 - 1995/6

N2 - Nosocomial outbreaks of epidemics of adenovirus keratoconjunctivitis are frequently reported even though the simple measures to prevent or limit such occurrences are well documented. There have been two such outbreaks associated with the accident and emergency department (A&E) of a large, urban eye hospital in recent years. In the first-involving at least 200 cases-there was a delay of two months in initiation of control measures, with consequent potentiation and prolongation of the outbreak. The delay resulted because of the time taken for isolation of the virus responsible (adenovirus type 8). In the second outbreak-23 cases-the use of a rapid diagnostic test-adenovirus immune dot-blot (IDBT)-allowed prompt identification of adenovirus and enabled early introduction of control measures. Important to this strategy was the routine surveillance of eye infections in patients attending the A&E. Many clinicians are reluctant to investigate possible ocular adenovirus disease because of the cost and the delay involved in isolation of the virus in cell culture. Adenovirus IDBT provides a rapid and economic alternative (mean time for IDBT reporting five days compared to 33 days for cell culture isolation). Concerns over sensitivity of IDBT (67-84%) vs. culture are now being addressed with molecular biological approaches to diagnosis offering sensitivity close to that achieved by culture (91% vs. culture) but with the added advantage of same day reporting.

AB - Nosocomial outbreaks of epidemics of adenovirus keratoconjunctivitis are frequently reported even though the simple measures to prevent or limit such occurrences are well documented. There have been two such outbreaks associated with the accident and emergency department (A&E) of a large, urban eye hospital in recent years. In the first-involving at least 200 cases-there was a delay of two months in initiation of control measures, with consequent potentiation and prolongation of the outbreak. The delay resulted because of the time taken for isolation of the virus responsible (adenovirus type 8). In the second outbreak-23 cases-the use of a rapid diagnostic test-adenovirus immune dot-blot (IDBT)-allowed prompt identification of adenovirus and enabled early introduction of control measures. Important to this strategy was the routine surveillance of eye infections in patients attending the A&E. Many clinicians are reluctant to investigate possible ocular adenovirus disease because of the cost and the delay involved in isolation of the virus in cell culture. Adenovirus IDBT provides a rapid and economic alternative (mean time for IDBT reporting five days compared to 33 days for cell culture isolation). Concerns over sensitivity of IDBT (67-84%) vs. culture are now being addressed with molecular biological approaches to diagnosis offering sensitivity close to that achieved by culture (91% vs. culture) but with the added advantage of same day reporting.

KW - Adenovirus keratoconjunctivitis

KW - epidemic keratoconjunctivitis

KW - hospital infection

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0029008948&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/0195-6701(95)90028-4

DO - 10.1016/0195-6701(95)90028-4

M3 - Article

C2 - 7560960

AN - SCOPUS:0029008948

VL - 30

SP - 262

EP - 267

JO - Journal of Hospital Infection

JF - Journal of Hospital Infection

SN - 0195-6701

IS - SUPPL.

ER -