title: Astroviruses as a cause of nosocomial outbreaks of infant diarrhea.
abstract: During a 16-month study period at a children's hospital, 32 children developed nosocomial gastroenteritis caused by astroviruses. Twenty-five of these occurred during 2 epidemic outbreaks in medical and surgical infants' wards. From the community, 13 confirmed cases were admitted during the study period. Both community-acquired and nosocomial cases occurred during autumn, winter and early spring. The attack rates during outbreaks ranged between 7 and 62% and were highest among children with underlying gastrointestinal diseases. Diarrhea and vomiting were the most common clinical manifestations. The median duration of symptoms was 4 days and that of virus excretion was 5 days. Hospital infection with astroviruses is common and usually affects children less than 2 years of age. The probable mode of transmission is spread via contaminated hands.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institute, Department of Pediatrics, St. Göran's Children's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Esahli
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brebäck
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bennet
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ehrnst
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: K O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Hedlund
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D001257:Mamastrovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*