[Low incidence of nosocomial respiratory syncytial virus infections among children younger than 12 months in the Department of Pediatrics, Sophia Children's Hospital at Rotterdam].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the occurrence of nosocomial respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections and to compare their clinical features with those of community-acquired RSV infections.

METHODS

Retrospective.

METHODS

Data were collected from the medical records of children younger than 12 months with RSV infection in the Department of Pediatrics of Sophia's Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in October-March 1992/'95. The diagnosis of 'RSV infection' was confirmed by a direct immunofluorescent assay and/or a viral culture on materials obtained from nasopharyngeal washes. A nosocomial RSV infection was defined as an infection which occurred more than 5 days after hospital admission for any underlying disease.

RESULTS

During the 3 RSV seasons 1260 children were admitted. Of these 34 (2.7%) developed a nosocomial RSV infection. The number of nosocomial RSV infections decreased over the study period. At the department including the outpatient clinic 232 children were seen with a community-acquired RSV infection. Children with a nosocomial infection differed from children with a community-acquired infection only with regard to birth weight (2.5 kg versus 3.0 kg), cough (65% versus 92%) and feeding problems (100% versus 69%). Four children had bronchopulmonary dysplasia and nosocomial RSV infection; these required mechanical ventilation.

CONCLUSIONS

The number of nosocomial RSV infections decreased over 3 years. The severity of nosocomial RSV infections was comparable with that of community-acquired RSV infections.