title: Detection of Common Respiratory Viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae in Patient-Occupied Rooms in Pediatric Wards.
abstract: Few studies have assessed viral contamination in the rooms of hospital wards. This cross-sectional study evaluated the air and objects in patient-occupied rooms in pediatric wards for the presence of common respiratory viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae.Air samplers were placed at a short (60-80 cm) and long (320 cm) distance from the head of the beds of 58 pediatric patients, who were subsequently confirmed to be infected with enterovirus (n = 17), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (n = 13), influenza A virus (n = 13), adenovirus (n = 9), or M pneumoniae (n = 6). Swab samples were collected from the surfaces of 5 different types of objects in the patients' rooms. All air and swab samples were analyzed via real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay for the presence of the above pathogens.All pathogens except enterovirus were detected in the air, on the objects, or in both locations in the patients' rooms. The detection rates of influenza A virus, adenovirus, and M pneumoniae for the long distance air sampling were 15%, 67%, and 17%, respectively. Both adenovirus and M pneumoniae were detected at very high rates, with high concentrations, on all sampled objects.The respiratory pathogens RSV, influenza A virus, adenovirus, and M pneumoniae were detected in the air and/or on the objects in the pediatric ward rooms. Appropriate infection control measures should be strictly implemented when caring for such patients.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Respiratory Therapy, College of Medicine (G-HW), College of Medicine (T-YL, Y-CH), and Department of Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, Research Center for Emerging Viral Infections (C-GH, K-CT), Chang Gung University; Department of Neurosurgery (G-HW), Laboratory Medicine (C-GH, K-CT) and Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (T-YL, Y-CH), Chang Gung Memorial Hospital; Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology (F-FC), Tao-Yuan, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Gwo-Hwa
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Chung-Guei
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Fen-Fang
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Tzou-Yien
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Kuo-Chien
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.forename: Yhu-Chering
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000391:Air Microbiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004770:Enterovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010372:Pediatrics; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014780:Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification*