title: Rotavirus in adults requiring hospitalization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of rotavirus among adults admitted to the hospital with diarrhea that have bacterial stool cultures sent.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prevalence of rotavirus was determined by Rotaclone EIA in samples submitted for bacterial stool culture from adults requiring hospitalization at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago from December 01, 2005-November 30, 2006.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rotavirus was detected in 2.9% of eligible bacterial stool cultures. A bacterial pathogen (e.g., Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter) was identified in 3.3%. Bacterial stool pathogens were more common from June-October while rotavirus was 2.4 times more common than all bacterial pathogens from February-May. Adults in whom rotavirus was detected were older (p < 0.05) and more often immunosuppressed (p < 0.02), particularly with HIV (p < 0.04) compared to individuals from whom bacteria were isolated. The duration of hospitalization and the number of invasive procedures performed in those with rotavirus and bacterial diarrhea were comparable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the era immediately prior to widespread rotavirus vaccination of children, rotavirus was as commonly detected from adults admitted to the hospital with diarrhea as are the bacterial gastroenteritis pathogens. Rotavirus is particularly prevalent from February-May (as in children) and in immunosuppressed or older adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Children's Memorial Hospital, Box #20, 2300 Children's Plaza, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. e-anderson3@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Evan J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Ben Z
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Polin
authors.forename: Susheel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Melissa H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Weinrobe
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Noskin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002641:Chicago; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology