Nosocomial calicivirus gastroenteritis in a pediatric hospital.
At St. Göran's Children's Hospital (a tertiary center), we perform electron microscopy of feces in most cases of nosocomial gastroenteritis. From September 1987 through April 1992 we identified 32 episodes of calicivirus infection, 25 of which were nosocomial and, except for one outbreak, sporadic. Systematic study of the nosocomial outbreak of calicivirus gastroenteritis from November 1991 to January 1992, revealed calicivirus in the stools of 8 of 23 children with diarrhea and 0 of 10 without diarrhea. In 3 of 7 sampled after cessation of diarrhea, calicivirus excretion continued for 3 to 6 days. We found no calicivirus in 42 staff members or 9 members of infected patients' families. Nosocomial transmission of calicivirus can occur among infants.
Department of Infectious Disease, Huddinge Hospital, Sweden.
J
J
Struve
R
R
Bennet
A
A
Ehrnst
M
M
Eriksson
K O
KO
Hedlund
P
P
Herin
A
A
Samuelsson
D000328:Adult; D002139:Caliciviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000821:virology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000821:virology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology