title: Prevalence of viruses in stool of premature neonates at a neonatal intensive care unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Premature neonates represent a population highly vulnerable to infection. This study aims to profile viral colonisation of gut and the associated clinical manifestations among premature neonates admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cohort of 75 premature neonates born at less than 32 weeks gestation, who were followed for 4 weeks following admission to a NICU in Sydney, Australia, multiplex polymerase chain reaction assays were used to determine viral presence in stool, and clinical data were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, viral RNA or DNA was detected in 24/419 (5.7%) of specimens, including norovirus genogroup 2 (1.9%), enterovirus (1.2%), herpes simplex virus-2 (1.2%), cytomegalovirus (0.7%), Epstein-Barr virus (0.5%) and rotavirus (0.2%). Viral infection was detected in 13/75 (17%) of premature neonates at some time point, including five (7%) neonates shedding more than one type of virus in stool. A higher rate of infection was observed among premature neonates with intrauterine growth restriction (56%) compared with those infants born appropriate for gestational age (12%. P = 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall viral detection rate in stool of 5.7% (affecting 17% of neonates) indicates viral infections are an important health risk for premature infants in NICU.
authors: Virology, Department of Microbiology, South Eastern Area Laboratory Services, Prince of Wales Hospital.
authors: Zin
authors: Z
authors: Naing
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Rayner
authors: Ananthen
authors: A
authors: Killikulangara
authors: Krishna
authors: K
authors: Vunnam
authors: Steven
authors: S
authors: Leach
authors: Christopher J
authors: CJ
authors: McIver
authors: Gillian M
authors: GM
authors: Scott
authors: Maria E
authors: ME
authors: Craig
authors: Kei
authors: K
authors: Lui
authors: William D
authors: WD
authors: Rawlinson
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology