Hospital-acquired rotavirus infections in Spain over a ten-year period (1998-2007)

To analyze the epidemiology and burden of rotavirus infections amongst hospitalized children up to 5 years of age in Spain over a 10-year period (1998-2007).

During the study period (1998-2007), a total of 10,990 cases of rotavirus disease mentioned as a secondary diagnosis were recorded (annual incidence of 59.02 cases per 100,000 people and 0.45 cases per 100 admissions). The average patient age was 9.8 months (SD 9.3), with 71% of the patients younger than 12 months of age. The mortality rate for children hospitalized for other primary causes, with rotavirus gastroenteritis as a secondary diagnosis was 0.16 per 100,000, and the case-fatality rate was 0.27%. The hospitalization rate decreased significantly with age, from 226 cases per 100,000 children 12 months of age or younger to 1.78 cases per 100,000 in children at the age of four. The infection rate amongst hospitalized children also decreased significantly with age, from 0.55% and 0.66% in children under one and two years, respectively, to 0.04% in children at the age of four.

Data provided by the National Epidemiology Surveillance System for Hospital Data (Conjunto Mínimo Básico de Datos; CMBD) were analyzed. This database includes clinical information on hospitalizations and associated costs. For the purpose of this study, hospital discharges that mentioned rotavirus disease as a secondary diagnosis (ICD-9CM 008.61) were considered rotavirus hospital-acquired infections. All such cases reported from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2007 were selected.

Hospital-acquired rotavirus infection morbidity and the associated consumption of health care resources are still important in Spain, especially in the younger groups (24 months of age and younger).