[Diarrhea caused by adenovirus and astrovirus in hospitalized immunodeficient patients].
BACKGROUND
Acute or chronic diarrheal illness are common complications in immunosuppressed patients such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected, bone marrow or solid organ transplanted patients and those with leukaemias or other immune deficiency disorders. Due to the importance of recognizing the feasible etiologies of diarrhea in order to give the proper antimicrobial chemotherapy or to avoid a misdiagnosis of rejection in the case of transplanted patients, we have investigated adenovirus and astrovirus antigen in faeces from different immunosuppressed patients.


METHODS
Stool samples from 258 immunodeficient patients hospitalized at University Hospital Complex of Santiago of Compostela with acute or persistent diarrhea were collected between 1997-99 and assayed for astrovirus and adenovirus antigen. Viral antigen was detected by EIA. Other common enteric pathogens were also assayed.


RESULTS
Adenovirus antigen was positive in 5 cases (2%) and astrovirus antigen in 12 cases (5%). The most commonly patients infected was those with haematologic disorders and premature infants. HIV-infected patients were positive for astrovirus antigen in 3 cases. The majority of the cases were related with intestinal bacterial diseases or other circumstances, such as Clostridium difficile infection, both associated with prolonged antimicrobial therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Astrovirus and adenovirus have to be considered as enteropathogens specially in immunocompromised hospitalized patients. An accurate diagnosis about diarrhea etiology is advisable in order to give a specific antimicrobial therapy, when it be necessary, or to avoid a misdiagnosis of rejection, in transplanted patients.
Treviño
M
M
Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, La Coruña.
Prieto
E
E
Peñalver
D
D
Aguilera
A
A
García-Zabarte
A
A
García-Riestra
C
C
Regueiro
B J
BJ
D000257:Adenoviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D019350:Astroviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology*; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000175:diagnosis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000150:complications*; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D001257:Mamastrovirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015163:Superinfection; D014180:Transplantation
D000914:Antibodies, Viral