title: Two concurrent epidemics of enteroviral meningitis in an obstetric neonatal unit.
abstract: A small epidemic of viral infection occurred in a neonatal unit. It involved 11 infants, all of whom recovered. Echovirus 11 was the cause of illness in six infants, coxsackie B3 in four, and one infant had a biphasic illness, due first to echo 11, then to coxsackie B3. The epidemic coincided with a major outbreak of echovirus 11 and a smaller outbreak of coxsackie B3 in the community. Several staff became ill. Five infants were considered to have been infected by perinatal materno-infant spread, others by cross-infection. The epidemic ended when the nursery was closed.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Reiss-Levy
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Don
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caldwell
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003384:Coxsackievirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D004457:Echovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008587:Meningitis, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009725:Nurseries, Hospital; D010564:Personnel, Hospital