Nosocomial infantile gastroenteritis associated with minirotavirus and calicivirus
Spratt, H.C.; Marks, M.I.; Gomersall, M.; Gill, P.; Pai, C.H.
Journal of Pediatrics 93(6): 922-926
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3476 PMID: 214535 Document Number: 131008
A prospective study was carried out to determine the epidemiology and etiology of acute gastroenteritis on the general infant ward of The Montreal Children's Hospital [Quebec, Canada] in the late fall of 1976. Diarrhea occurred in 41 of 165 infants (25%), with probable nosocomial acquisition in 26 patients. Two infants each had 2 episodes of diarrhea, and 1 had 3. A putative pathogen was found in 31 of 45 case episodes (69%). Virus-like particles were present in 28 of 45 patients, and in 24 of 74 asymptomatic room contacts. Particles belonging to 6 morphologic classes were identified: adenovirus, rotavirus, minirotavirus, calicivirus, picorna-parvovirus and coronavirus. More than 1 agent was identified in 12 infants with diarrhea and in 5 asymptomatic room contacts. No wardwide etiologic pattern was evident, but minirotavirus and/or calicivirus were associated with diarrhea in 20 patients, accompanied by vomiting in 15 of these infants. Spread of individual agents was almost entirely limited to minirotavirus and calicivirus, with diarrhea in 6 of 10, and 4 of 7, virus positive room contacts, respectively. These viruses were also identified in stools from 12 infants without diarrhea, 7 of whom had repeated vomiting. Data support the etiologic role of minirotavirus and calicivirus in diarrhea and/or vomiting in hospitalized infants.