title: [Incidence of nosocomial rotavirus infections in a pediatric hospital over a 3-year period].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the incidence rate of hospital-acquired rotavirus infections (HRI) in a paediatric hospital in a 3-year period; the risk of HRI associated to age, sex, ward, season; the cost determined by HRI for the healthcare system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective epidemiological study, carried out using hospital datasets, with the analysis of some clinical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 2003-2005 period the HRI incidence rate was 1.9% (mean age 15.2 months, SD 11.8, range 1.5-49), with a decreasing trend over years. Children aged less than 8 months were at higher risk of HRI than others (RR 1.83, CI 95% 1.18-2.85) as well as were children admitted to a 0-18 months pediatric medicine ward (RR=2.84, CI 95% 1.78-4.5) and to an infectious diseases ward (RR=4.9, CI 95% 3.4-7). The incidence of HRI was higher in the winter than in the rest of the year (RR 1.59, CI 95% 1.07-2.36). The hospital stay of children with HRI was prolonged by a mean of 5.2 days compared to age, sex and comorbidity-matched controls. (P=0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The method used in this study is easily reproducible. Data obtained can be used as internal quality indicators and to evaluate the performance of different hospital wards in infection control. Infection prevention activities should involve mothers and families of hospitalized children, as they perform on them a great deal of basic care and hygiene activities which are at risk for hospital cross-infections.
authors.affiliation: Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Meyer, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Biermann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Reali
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Martino
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Festini
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors