Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Engineering and Evolution of Synthetic Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) Gene Therapy Vectors via DNA Family Shuffling
21:55

Engineering and Evolution of Synthetic Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) Gene Therapy Vectors via DNA Family Shuffling

Published on: April 2, 2012

Evolution of an adenovirus outbreak in a multidisciplinary children's hospital

M Hatherill1, M Levin, J Lawrenson

  • 1Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Red Cross Chidren's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. hatheril@ich.uct.ac.za

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|July 22, 2004
PubMed

Insights

An adenovirus outbreak spread rapidly in a children's hospital, with hospital-acquired infections being common. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) did not improve outcomes in this high-risk pediatric population.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Hospital Epidemiology
  • Viral Outbreaks

Background:

  • Adenovirus outbreaks pose significant risks in pediatric healthcare settings.
  • High-risk pediatric populations are particularly vulnerable to severe outcomes from viral infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To document the clinical course and epidemiology of an adenovirus outbreak.
  • To assess the impact of hospital-acquired adenovirus infections in a pediatric hospital.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in treating adenovirus infections.

Main Methods:

  • An observational study was conducted in a 280-bed university hospital.
  • Active case finding identified 49 children with adenovirus infection.
  • Data collected included demographics, acquisition source, co-morbidities, treatment, and outcomes.

Main Results:

  • The outbreak spanned 26 days, with a peak in new cases on day 17.
  • Hospital-acquired infections accounted for 53% of cases.
  • Mortality was 22% overall, with no significant difference between community- and hospital-acquired infections. IVIG treatment did not demonstrate a significant benefit.

Conclusions:

  • Effective infection control measures are crucial to prevent the rapid spread of hospital-acquired adenovirus.
  • Adenovirus infections in high-risk pediatric patients, whether community- or hospital-acquired, carry substantial mortality.
  • Further research, such as a prospective randomized trial, is needed to confirm the role of IVIG.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...
Investigation of Disease Outbreaks01:23

Investigation of Disease Outbreaks

Multistate foodborne outbreaks pose significant public health risks and require meticulous investigation to identify sources and implement control measures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) utilizes a dynamic seven-step process for these investigations, integrating data from laboratories, interviews, and environmental assessments to protect public health.Outbreak Detection: The detection of multistate outbreaks typically begins with PulseNet, the CDC's national laboratory...
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...
Viral Mutations00:36

Viral Mutations

A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material for adaptive...
Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence01:28

Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence

Infectious diseases appear in populations through various transmission patterns, influenced by pathogen characteristics, population immunity, environmental conditions, and social behavior. Understanding these patterns is essential for effective public health surveillance and intervention. These categories—sporadic, outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, and endemic—help frame the nature and scope of disease events.Sporadic diseases occur irregularly and infrequently, without a predictable temporal or...
Arboviral Encephalitis01:25

Arboviral Encephalitis

Arboviral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation caused by arthropod-borne viruses, particularly those transmitted through mosquito vectors. Among these, West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a significant public health concern. WNV is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Human infection typically begins when an infected mosquito introduces the virus into the dermis during feeding. The primary transmission cycle involves birds as amplifying hosts...