[Clinical and virological studies of nosocomial conjunctivitis infection caused by adenovirus type 37 variant].
OBJECTIVE
To study the clinical features and virological analysis of the nosocomial adenoviral conjunctivitis cases occurring in the ophthalmology ward of Fukushima Medical University Hospital.


METHODS
We studied the symptoms and clinical course of 61 patients who had adenoviral conjunctivitis caused by nosocomial infections in our hospital. We attempted to detect the adenovirus antigen, analyze the viral DNA, and isolate the virus from conjunctival swabs.


RESULTS
The clinical symptoms of adenoviral conjunctivitis were mainly conjunctival hyperemia, discharge and conjunctival follicles. Adenoviral conjunctivitis patients who had undergone ophthalmic surgery had conjunctivitis in the operated eye. The sensitivity of Adeno-check was 78.9% in the in-patients. Adenovirus type 37 variant was detected by molecular analysis and viral isolation.


CONCLUSIONS
Adenoviral conjunctivitis can often lead to outbreaks of nosocomial infection in the ophthalmic ward and sometimes requires makes necessary restriction of hospitalization and closing of the ward. Therefore, patients need to be observed carefully. The virological analysis of specimens from conjunctival swabs detected pathogens and provided useful information concerning adenoviral conjunctivitis.
Kaneko
Hisatoshi
H
Department of Ophthalmology, Fukushima Medical University, School of Medicine, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan.
Kondo
Takeshi
T
Fujiwara
Toshiyuki
T
Iida
Tomohiro
T
Miura
Rika
R
Nakajima
Haruhiko
H
Ishiko
Hiroaki
H
Ariga
Toshihide
T
Aoki
Koki
K
Ohno
Shigeaki
S
Suzutani
Tatsuo
T
D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000328:Adult; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000821:virology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male