Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis caused by adenovirus type 8: epidemiologic and laboratory aspects of a large outbreak

During late 1977 and early 1978, 192 cases of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis occurred in a community in central Georgia. In 86 of these cases, the patient had been exposed to a single ophthalmologist's office (physician A) 3-22 days before onset of illness. Patients considered as cases were more likely to have had invasive ophthalmologic procedures than non-cases (p < 0.001), and a linear relationship existed between the number of procedures performed and the attack rate (r = 0.91, p < 0.05). Adenovirus type 8 (AV8) was identified as the responsible pathogen by culture and/or antibody determination for 20 of these patients. Group-specific AV hexon antigen and type specific dodecon antigen were identified in four of seven ophthalmic solutions obtained from physician A's office. The outbreak stopped after proper control techniques were initiated.