title: Respiratory syncytial virus outbreak on an adult stem cell transplant unit.
abstract: An increase in respiratory syncytial virus type B (RSV-B) infections was detected on an adult hematology/oncology and stem cell transplant unit during March 2015. This prompted an outbreak investigation.
  
  
  
  Nosocomial cases were defined as RSV-B-positive patients who developed respiratory virus symptoms ≥ 7 days after admission to the unit or were readmitted with symptoms ≤ 7 days since last discharge from the unit. Strict outbreak control measures were implemented to stop the outbreak.
  
  
  
  During the outbreak, 19 cases of RSV-B were detected, 14 among patients and 5 among health care workers (HCWs). Additionally, 2 HCWs tested positive for respiratory syncytial virus type A and 1 tested positive for influenza B among the 27 symptomatic HCWs evaluated. No specific antiviral therapy was given and all cases recovered without progression to lower respiratory tract infection. After no new cases were identified for 2 weeks, the outbreak was declared over.
  
  
  
  High vigilance for respiratory viruses on high-risk inpatient units is required for detection and prevention of potential outbreaks. Multiple respiratory viruses with outbreak potential were identified among HCWs. HCWs with respiratory virus symptoms should not provide direct patient care. Absence of lower respiratory tract infection suggests lower virulence of RSV-B, compared with respiratory syncytial virus type A, among immunocompromised adults.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL. Electronic address: Sean-Kelly@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Sean G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Healthcare Epidemiology and Infection Prevention, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Metzger
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL; Healthcare Epidemiology and Infection Prevention, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Maureen K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Bolon
authors.affiliation: Healthcare Epidemiology and Infection Prevention, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silkaitis
authors.affiliation: Oncology Services, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mielnicki
authors.affiliation: Corporate Health, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.affiliation: Corporate Health, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rooney
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Molecular Biology Laboratory, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Blanke
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Molecular Biology Laboratory, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: AlaaEddin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tahboub
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Noskin
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL; Healthcare Epidemiology and Infection Prevention, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Teresa R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Zembower
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053687:Adult Stem Cells; D000368:Aged; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation
keywords: Health care epidemiology; Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation