Outbreak of Adenovirus Serotype 8 Conjunctivitis in Preterm Infants in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Background: Adenovirus eratoconjunctivitis outbreaks have rarely been reported in preterm infants. An outbreak of adenovirus conjunctivitis occurred between 15 January and 25 February at a neonatal intensive care unit of a university hospital in Turkey Aim: To describe the evolution, investigation and management of the outbreak. Methods: Adenovirus type 8 was identified in 14 samples by polymerase chain reaction analysis. A case control study was performed to determine the risk factors. Findings: Fifteen preterm neonates, five healthcare workers (HCWS) and four parents suffered from conjunctivitis signs such as lacrimation, swelling and redness of the eye. A retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) examination was found to be the most important risk factor for adenovirus conjunctivitis (odds ratio: 17.5; 95% confidence interval: 1.9-163.0; P-0.012). The eyelid speculum (blepharostat) used during the ROP exarmination was not sterilized between each patient and was found to be the cause of contamination. Conclusion: Te outbreak was controlled by measures such as barrer precautions, hand hygiene, sterilization of the blepharostat, suspending patlent transfer to other units, and excluding infected HCWS for at least 15 days. e 2011 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.