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Prevention of Nosocomial Transmission of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in a Newborn Nursery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

David R. Snydman ,
Cynthia Greer ,
H. Cody Meissner  and
Kenneth Mcintosh
David R. Snydman
Affiliation:
Departments of Medicine. Pediatrics, Pathology, and Epidemiology, New England Medical Center
Cynthia Greer
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics. Children?, Hospital Medical Center
H. Cody Meissner
Affiliation:
Tuft\University School of Medicine
Kenneth Mcintosh
Affiliation:
Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Abstract

During three winter seasons prior to 1984-1985 the special care nursery at New England Medical Center experienced respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) epidemics that required closure of the unit. Prior to and during the 1984-1985 winter season, several measures were taken to prevent recurrent nosocomial RSV transmission. In the winters of 1984-1985 and 1985-1986 there were 26 introductions of community-acquired RSV with no transmission of nosocomial cases during 1,688 patient days at risk as compared with 1983-1984 when there were seven cases of nosocomial RSV following six introductions of RSV during 875 patient days at risk (rate = 8 per 1,000 patient days) (P = 0.0016). The institution of many infection control measures including active surveillance, cohorting infected patients, a strict winter visiting policy, and gowning, gloving, and applying mask on contact, was associated with the successful prevention of nosocomial transmission of RSV in this nursery setting.

Information

Type
Origional Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 9 , Issue 3 , March 1988 , pp. 105 - 108
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1988 

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