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Published on: July 24, 2016
Astrovirus and digestive disorders in neonatal units
Céline Chappé1, Sophie Minjolle, Alain Dabadie
1Department of Pediatrics CHU Rennes, Rennes, France. celinechappe80@gmail.com
Aim:
To describe clinical signs associated with Human Astrovirus (HAstV) in stools in neonatal units.
Methods:
During 2005-2006, all stool virology performed for isolated digestive symptoms or suspicion of neonatal infection was tested for HAstV by an amplified enzyme-linked immunoassay (IDEIA™ Astrovirus test, Dako Cytomation). Each newborn with a positive result (HAstV+ group) was retrospectively matched with the first following symptomatic newborn in the same care unit having a negative stool virology (HAstV- group). Clinical data were collected during two 3-day periods (just after faecal samples collection and 1 week before) and compared within and between each group.
Results:
Human astrovirus was detected in faeces of 68 newborns [gestational age: 31.4(28.8-34) weeks] at a post-natal age of 23 (15-42) days without seasonal dominance. Human astrovirus+ and HAstV- groups were comparable. Bloody stool (54.4% versus 14.7%, p < 0.01) and stage II-III necrotizing enterocolitis (20.6% versus 4.4%, p < 0.05) were more frequently observed in HAstV+ than in HAstV- group; these associations were confirmed by logistic regression analysis.
Conclusion:
This descriptive study argues for a possible association between HAstV and digestive symptoms in newborns specifically in preterm infants.
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