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[Evaluation of a prevention program against nosocomial rotavirus infections in a pediatric ward]
F Rouget1, F Chomienne, E Laurens
1Service de pédiatrie, centre hospitalier, Cholet, France.
Insights
Nosocomial rotavirus infections in a pediatric ward decreased after prevention measures were implemented. Shorter hospital stays appear to be a key factor in reducing infection rates.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Infection Control
Context:
- Nosocomial rotavirus infections pose a significant risk in pediatric hospital settings.
- Previous studies indicated a notable incidence of these infections during the 1993-1994 winter season.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the efficacy of prevention measures implemented between 1993-1994 and 1996-1997.
- To assess changes in the incidence of nosocomial rotavirus infections in a pediatric ward.
Summary:
- A prospective study in 1996-1997 involving 348 children under three years old monitored rotavirus infections.
- The rotavirus nosocomial infection rate decreased from 3.7% in 1993-1994 to 2.9% in 1996-1997.
- The mean length of hospitalization also reduced from 2.7 to 1.6 days.
Impact:
- The findings support the enforcement of prevention measures, particularly those aimed at reducing hospital length of stay.
- The study highlights the limitations of prevention due to viral characteristics and hospitalization conditions.
Unlabelled:
The incidence of nosocomial rotavirus infections was evaluated by a study made in the pediatric ward in Cholet during the winter of 1993-1994. A second study was performed three years later at the same place and in similar conditions in order to evaluate the efficacy of the prevention measures taken in between.
Patients And Methods:
All children below three years of age and admitted to hospital between 1 December 1996 and 15 March 1997 were included in the prospective study (348 children). Fecal specimens were collected for each patient at admission in order to search for rotavirus. Then, a second stool analysis was performed if diarrhea occurred during hospitalization or within 48 hours of discharge. These last cases were detected by a phone call.
Results:
Thirty percent of the children had diarrhea at admission to hospital (19.3% in 1993-1994). Rotavirus was present in 11.8% of the first stool analyses (8.6% in 1993-1994). The rotavirus nosocomial infection rate has decreased from 3.7% (13 cases) in 1993-1994 to 2.9% (ten cases). The mean length of hospitalization has also decreased from 2.7 to 1.6 days.
Conclusion:
The decrease in the rotavirus nosocomial infection rate leads to enforcing the prevention measures, among which the most important seems to us to be the short length of stay. However, the study also shows the limits of prevention that are linked to the virus characteristics and the conditions of hospitalization.