A pseudoepidemic of adenoviruses in a neonatal care unit.
A number of stool samples from a neonatal intensive care unit reacted in a latex agglutination test (LAT) for adenoviruses. However, the majority of these babies had no symptoms. Virus particles were not visualized by electron microscopy, whereas the results of ELISAs and stool cultures in appropriate cell lines remained negative. The episode was interpreted as a pseudoepidemic. The LAT for adenoviruses is not suited for the examination of stools from very young babies.
Ieven
M
M
Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium.
Van Reempts
P
P
Van Overmeire
B
B
Provinciael
D
D
Vael
K
K
Pattyn
S
S
D000258:Adenovirus Infections, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000328:Adult; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D008854:Microscopy, Electron