Hospital cross-infection on children's wards with respiratory syncytial virus and the role of adult carriage.
A further 18 children who acquired respiratory syncytial (R.S.) virus infection on general paediatric wards have been identified, bringing the total number of hospital cross-infections by this virus to 46 for the last 3 annual R.S. virus epidemics on Tyneside. 25 of these 46 illnesses involved the lower respiratory tract. Carriage of R.S. virus by staff and visitors was studied on one ward, and appeared to be responsible for at least 2 and probably 4 of the 6 cross-infections detected on this ward. Methods for controlling the transmission of virus by adults on children's wards are discussed.
D002353:Carrier State; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013997:Time Factors