title: Transmission of respiratory syncytial virus at the paediatric intensive-care unit: a prospective study using real-time PCR.
abstract: Transmission of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) from children with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) at a paediatric intensive-care unit (PICU) was examined using a highly sensitive real-time PCR. Twenty-four children with RSV LRTI were admitted during the study period (total days of potential transmission: 239). Forty-eight RSV-negative patients were followed up for RSV acquisition every 5 days (total days of exposure: 683). No single RSV transmission was documented with this highly sensitive diagnostic method. Therefore, routine infection control measures of LRTI patients seem to be adequate to prevent RSV transmission at the PICU.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The Netherlands. a.c.vandepol-3@umcutrecht.nl
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: van de Pol
authors.forename: J W A
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Rossen
authors.forename: T F W
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Wolfs
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Breteler
authors.forename: J L L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kimpen
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: van Loon
authors.forename: N J G
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Jansen
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000235:genetics*