ROLE OF MEDICAL AND NURSING PERSONNEL (P) IN NOSOCOMIAL (nosoc) SPREAD OF ROTAVIRUS (RV) ON AN INFANT WARD

Abstract

To assess the role of ward P in nosoc transmission of RV on an infant ward, during a month with a 14% incidence of nosoc RV infection (RVI), 36 P were studied as follows: twice weekly stool and throat swabs were tested for RV (ELISA); paired pre- and post-study sera were examined for 4X rises in anti-RV by an ELISA technique; P were interviewed weekly for GI symptoms; and handwashings from each P were tested for RV. RV was not detected in the stool or throat of any P. Handwashings yielded RV in 1 of 10 P caring for RVI patients and none of 26 P not caring for RVI patients on the sample day. Serology demonstrated 3 RV infections (2 mildly symptomatic, 1 asymptomatic). All P had preexisting anti-RV; the mean was 2744 (95% CL, 1538-3950). Infection occurred in 3/13 with low titers (≤ 500) as compared with 0 of 23 of those with higher titers (p = 0.05). 2 of 9 medical students (MS), 1 of 9 house officers (HO) and 0 of 18 nurses (N) were infected. The mean preexisting titer for the MS (948) was significantly (p = 0.03) lower than that for HO (3111) and for N (3458). P exposed to children with RVI appear to become infected infrequently, RVI is most likely to occur when P are first exposed; those repeatedly exposed maintain high serum anti-RV titers. If P serve as intermediaries in nosoc transmission, they presumably do so by transient RV carriage.

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