title: An outbreak of human parainfluenza virus 3 infection in an outpatient hematopoietic stem cell transplantation clinic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Parainfluenza viruses cause respiratory tract infections in adults and children, with peak activity during the spring and summer months. Human parainfluenza virus type 3 (hPIV-3) can contribute to significant morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Automated surveillance software was used to identify an hPIV-3 outbreak in an HSCT clinic. Active surveillance for respiratory illness and infection control measures were instituted. A retrospective molecular investigation of outbreak viral strains was performed by direct sequencing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve of 196 HSCT recipients attending the clinic during the outbreak period had hPIV-3; one of these patients died. Sequencing demonstrated highly related strains in 9 of 10 patients studied. Despite the ongoing presence of hPIV-3 outside the inpatient/outpatient care continuum clinic, only 2 cases were observed after institution of respiratory season infection control measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This investigation demonstrates the utility of surveillance software in the identification of respiratory virus outbreaks and the importance of rapid implementation of infection control/prevention measures for containment of outbreaks.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA. emily.sydnor@hsc.utah.edu
authors.forename: Emily R M
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Sydnor
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greer
authors.forename: Alicia P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Budd
authors.forename: Miriana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pehar
authors.forename: Supriya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Munshaw
authors.forename: Dionissios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Neofytos
authors.forename: Trish M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Perl
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valsamakis
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010224:Parainfluenza Virus 3, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D010253:Respirovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012984:Software
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral