Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 26, 2026

Swab Sampling Method for the Detection of Human Norovirus on Surfaces
10:03

Swab Sampling Method for the Detection of Human Norovirus on Surfaces

Published on: February 6, 2017

Nosocomial transmission of rotavirus from patients admitted with diarrhea

A Gaggero1, L F Avendaño, J Fernández

  • 1Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Santiago, Chile.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|December 1, 1992
PubMed

Insights

Hospitalized infants shedding rotavirus (RV) are the primary source of nosocomial RV transmission. No single RV strain showed exceptional transmissibility in this Santiago, Chile study.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Nosocomial rotavirus (RV) transmission poses a significant risk to hospitalized infants.
  • Understanding transmission dynamics is crucial for implementing effective infection control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the sources and patterns of rotavirus transmission among hospitalized children under two years of age in Santiago, Chile.
  • To identify the primary drivers of nosocomial rotavirus spread within a hospital setting.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study involving 950 hospitalized infants with diarrhea.
  • Collection of stool samples every other day throughout hospitalization.
  • Molecular characterization of 315 rotavirus isolates using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to identify distinct electropherotypes.

Main Results:

  • 18 different rotavirus electropherotypes were identified among the isolates.
  • Nosocomial transmission was linked to community-acquired strains in 81% of cases within the same room and 92% within the ward.
  • No specific rotavirus strain demonstrated significantly higher transmissibility.

Conclusions:

  • Infants admitted to the hospital already shedding rotavirus are the main source of nosocomial transmission.
  • Effective infection control measures should focus on managing shedding patients to prevent hospital-acquired rotavirus infections.
  • The study did not identify any single rotavirus strain with a notable advantage in transmissibility.

More Related Videos

Assays for the Specific Growth Rate and Cell-binding Ability of Rotavirus10:49

Assays for the Specific Growth Rate and Cell-binding Ability of Rotavirus

Published on: January 28, 2019

Simplified Reverse Genetics Method to Recover Recombinant Rotaviruses Expressing Reporter Proteins11:40

Simplified Reverse Genetics Method to Recover Recombinant Rotaviruses Expressing Reporter Proteins

Published on: April 17, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Transmission-based Precautions I: Contact, Enteric, and Droplets01:17

Transmission-based Precautions I: Contact, Enteric, and Droplets

Transmission-based precautions are for patients known to be infected or suspected to be infected or colonized with organisms that pose a significant risk to others. Some transmission-based precautions include contact, enteric, and droplet.
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...
Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents01:18

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents

Acute diarrhea, a common gastrointestinal disturbance, is characterized by the rapid evacuation of fluid stools, leading to an excessive weight in fluid. This condition typically arises from disorders affecting intestinal water and electrolyte transport. It can be triggered by an increased osmotic load within the intestine, excessive secretion of electrolytes and water, mucosal exudation of protein and fluid, or altered intestinal motility. The primary risks of acute diarrhea are dehydration...
Reservoir of Infection01:30

Reservoir of Infection

Infectious diseases arise from intricate interactions between pathogens and their reservoirs. A reservoir of infection refers to the natural habitat where a pathogen lives, grows, and multiplies, serving as a continual source of infection. Reservoirs are broadly classified as either living or nonliving, and each plays a unique role in disease transmission, significantly influencing public health interventions and control strategies.Humans act as reservoirs for a wide array of pathogens,...
Bacterial Gastroenteritis01:18

Bacterial Gastroenteritis

Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid receptor...
Cholera01:25

Cholera

Cholera is an acute gastrointestinal disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It is transmitted primarily via the fecal-oral route through the ingestion of contaminated water or food.Vibrio cholerae is a motile, Gram-negative bacterium of the family Vibrionaceae, primarily associated with waterborne outbreaks in areas with inadequate sanitation. Although over 200 serogroups of V. cholerae exist, only O1 and O139 are responsible for epidemic cholera. The O1 serogroup,...
Poliomyelitis01:17

Poliomyelitis

Poliomyelitis is caused by poliovirus, a small, non-enveloped, positive-sense RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family and Enterovirus genus. Transmission occurs primarily via the fecal-oral route, often through ingestion of contaminated water or food. The virus initially replicates in the oropharynx and intestinal mucosa, particularly in lymphoid tissues such as the tonsils, Peyer’s patches, and regional lymph nodes. Primary viremia follows, allowing dissemination throughout the body.In most...