Related Experiment Videos
An outbreak of echovirus 11 in a children's home
E Somekh1, T Shohat, R Handsher
1The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, The Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel.
Insights
Echovirus 11 efficiently spread in a children's home, causing aseptic meningitis in 30% of infected infants. Asymptomatic infections were common in infants and staff, highlighting transmission risks in communal settings.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Virology
Background:
- Echovirus 11 outbreaks can occur in institutional settings.
- Children's homes present unique challenges for infection control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the transmission dynamics and clinical presentation of echovirus 11 in a children's home setting.
- To assess the attack rate and risk factors associated with echovirus 11 infection.
Main Methods:
- Case identification and clinical assessment of affected children and staff.
- Laboratory analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and stool samples for echovirus 11.
- Serological testing to detect recent echovirus 11 infection in staff.
Main Results:
- Echovirus 11 infection was confirmed in 9 infants younger than 1 year, with 3 developing aseptic meningitis.
- Asymptomatic shedding of echovirus 11 occurred in 6 infants and 1 older child.
- Seven asymptomatic staff members showed serological evidence of recent echovirus 11 infection, suggesting efficient transmission.
Conclusions:
- Echovirus 11 spreads efficiently in children's homes, posing a significant risk to vulnerable infants.
- Aseptic meningitis occurred in 30% of infected infants, while adult infections were largely asymptomatic.
- Enhanced hygiene and infection control measures are crucial in institutional settings to prevent echovirus outbreaks.
Abstract:
An outbreak of echovirus 11 infection was observed in a children's home that housed 16 children. Nine children younger than 1 year shared a large room on the first floor, which contained a large basin. Three of them presented with aseptic meningitis with CSF and stool samples positive for echovirus 11. The other six infants who shared the room were asymptomatic but their stools were positive for echovirus 11. Seven infants aged 1-2 years stayed on the second floor and were asymptomatic. One of them had positive stool culture for echovirus 11. No virus was isolated from stool samples taken from the 26 staff members. However, serology was suggestive for recent echovirus 11 infection in seven asymptomatic staff members. All seven worked either exclusively on the first floor or alternately on both floors. Our survey demonstrated that echovirus 11 may spread very efficiently in children's homes. The rate of meningitis in the infected infants was 30% while all the recently infected adults were asymptomatic.