Acute gastroenteritis outbreak caused by a GII.6 norovirus

AIM:To report an acute gastroenteritis outbreak caused by a genogroup 2 genotype 6(GII.6) strain norovirus in Shanghai,China.METHODS:Noroviruses are responsible for approximately half of all reported gastroenteritis outbreaks in many countries.Genogroup 2 genotype 4 strains are the most prevalent.Rare outbreaks caused by GII.6 strains have been reported.An acute gastroenteritis outbreak occurred in an elementary school in Shanghai in December of 2013.Field and molecular epidemiologic investigations were conducted.RESULTS:The outbreak was limited to one class in an elementary school located in southwest Shanghai.The age of the students ranged from 9 to 10 years.The first case emerged on December 10,2013,and the last case emerged on December 14,2013.The cases peaked on December 11,2013,with 21 new cases.Of 45 students in the class,32 were affected.The main symptom was gastroenteritis,and 15.6%(5/32) of the cases exhibited a fever.A field epidemiologic investigation showed the pathogen may have been transmitted to the elementary school from employees in a delicatessen via the first case student,who had eaten food from the delicatessen one day before the gastroenteritis episodes began.A molecular epidemiologic investigation identified the cause of the gastroenteritis as norovirus strain GII.6;the viral sequence of the student cases showed 100% homology with that of the shop employees.Genetic relatedness analyses showed that the new viral strain is closely related to previously reported GII.6 sequences,especially to a strain reported in Japan.CONCLUSION:This is the first report to show that norovirus strain GII.6 can cause a gastroenteritis outbreak.Thus,the prevalence of GII.6 noroviruses requires attention.     

Successful control of Serratia marcescens outbreak in a neonatal unit of a tertiary-care hospital in Spain

ObjectiveSerratia marcescens is a Gram-negative bacterium that is found in hospital environments and commonly associated with outbreaks in neonatal units. One S. marcescens isolate was detected from a bloodstream culture from a neonate in our hospital that was followed by an outbreak. The aim of this study was to describe the molecular epidemiology of a S. marcescens outbreak in the neonatal unit.MethodsIn order to investigate the outbreak, weekly surveillance rectal swabs were submitted for culture from all patients admitted in this unit from August to September 2018. Environmental samples were obtained from potential sources in September 2018. Typing of isolates was performed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). In addition, we studied the in vitro activity of chlorhexidine against S. marcescens.ResultsDuring this period, 146 infants were hospitalised in our neonatal unit, of which 16 patients had a S. marcescens-positive sample. A total of 36 environmental surveillance samples were collected, and one sample from a stethoscope from an incubator of a colonized baby was positive for S. marcescens. All the 18 isolates, including the isolate from the stethoscope, belonged to a single PFGE cluster. We found that very low concentrations of chlorhexidine, even with application times close to 0 achieved significant reductions in the amount of S. marcescens.ConclusionA unique clone of S. marcescens caused this outbreak, including isolates from patients and from one stethoscope. The outbreak was controlled with the early implementation of specific control measures.     

Successful control of a norovirus outbreak among attendees of a hospital teaching conference

We report an outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis after a hospital teaching conference, and describe the specific measures instituted by the infection control team. No secondary cases of norovirus infection were identified among hospital staff or patients. In a case-control study, we identified multiple food source contamination as the source of the outbreak. Our report highlights the potential success of a multifaceted infection control strategy in preventing the transmission of norovirus in health care settings.     

Characterization and rapid control of a vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF) outbreak in a renal transplant unit in Spain: The environment matters

Objective

To describe a clonal outbreak due to vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF) in the nephrology and renal transplant unit of a tertiary teaching hospital in Barcelona, Spain, and to highlight how active patient and environment surveillance cultures, as well as prompt and directed intervention strategies, mainly environmental, helped to successfully bring it under control.

西藏自治区墨脱县一起疟疾暴发疫情的调查分析

目的 对西藏自治区墨脱县达木乡珠村发生的一起内源性疟疾暴发疫情进行描述和分析,以明确此次疟疾暴发的病例分型、分布特征、流行程度和流行规律,为防治和消除疟疾提供科学依据.方法 通过回顾性调查收集病例及相关数据,采用描述性统计学分析方法,阐明此次疟疾疫情的三间分布特征,并对疫情定性;通过镜检确定病例分型,为及时规范治疗提供...     

Influenza Vaccine: Epidemiology of norovirus and viral gastroenteritis in Ontario,Canada, 2009–2014

BackgroundNorovirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in Canada. The illness causes great morbidity and high societal costs. The objective of this article is to describe the epidemiology of norovirus in the province of Ontario, Canada from 2009 to 2014.MethodsTo assess activity of norovirus and viral gastroenteritis (VGE) in Ontario, three datasets were acquired from the provincial government: two traditional surveillance datasets (outbreak and laboratory) and syndromic surveillance data (telehealth), all spanning 2009–2014. All outbreaks, laboratory submissions and telehealth calls were first assessed for total VGE. Norovirus and norovirus-like illness totals were calculated as a proportion of VGE to estimate agent-specific activity levels. Affected institution types, sexes and age groups were also analyzed.ResultsBetween 2009 and 2014, 41.5% of VGE outbreaks, 63.4% of VGE laboratory submissions and 36.6% of all acute gastroenteritis-related (not restricted to viral causes) telehealth calls were attributed to norovirus and norovirus-like illness in Ontario. The most commonly affected institution type was long-term care homes and the most commonly affected age groups were younger (younger than five years) and older (older than 65 years) individuals. Females were slightly more frequently affected than males.ConclusionNorovirus and norovirus-like illnesses were the leading cause of VGE in Ontario between 2009 and 2014. They comprised the greatest percentage of VGE when compared with all other VGE-associated viruses. Additional work is needed to determine all component costs and necessary public health actions to reduce the burden of disease.     

Characteristics of COVID-19 patients admitted into two hospitals in sapporo,Japan: Analyses and insights from two outbreak waves

BackgroundCoronavirus disease (COVID-19) emerged in January 2020 in Sapporo city, and the outbreak has shown two peaks.MethodsA total of 260 COVID-19 patients were enrolled and categorized into three groups according to the pandemic pattern, jobs and situation, and disease severity. We compared clinical characteristics according to these categories.ResultsWe found two pandemic peaks, and the proportion of patients and health providers who were infected in other hospitals had increased in the latter two periods (period 2: 49.6%, period 3: 32.7%). Particularly, the proportion of infected health providers was 27% in period 2, and they tended to be younger females with a mild condition. Severity of the disease (requirement of oxygen and/or mechanical ventilation) was associated with advanced age, and all the patients who died during admission were over 60 years old.ConclusionsWe reported the temporal dynamics and characteristics of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sapporo city, Japan. This survey from the viewpoint of the hospital provides a new insight into and a better guide for the further management of the COVID-19 pandemic.     

The role of torovirus in nosocomial viral gastroenteritis at a large tertiary pediatric centre

OBJECTIVE:

To describe the viral etiology and epidemiology of nosocomial viral gastroenteritis (NVG) at a tertiary care pediatric hospital and identify any changes over the past two decades.

METHODS:

Retrospective review of all patients with laboratory-confirmed NVG at The Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto, Ontario), from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2005.

RESULTS:

One hundred forty-two episodes of NVG were found among 133 patients, occurring in 0.48 of 100 admissions. The median age was two years; 42% were <1 year of age and 41% were immunocompromised. The most commonly detected pathogen was torovirus (67% of episodes), followed by rotavirus (19%) and adenovirus (9%). Seventy-five cases (53%) were epidemiologically linked in 32 separate clusters (median cluster size two, range two to four). The NVG rate fell from 0.63 of 100 to 0.22 of 100 admissions after March 2005 (P<0.001) when enhanced infection control precautions were instituted in response to an outbreak of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus.

CONCLUSIONS:

Torovirus remains the most commonly identified cause of NVG at The Hospital for Sick Children. Most NVG cases were epidemiologically linked, and a significant reduction in cases occurred after the institution of enhanced infection control practices following an outbreak of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus. Improved education and surveillance for NVG should lead to further reduction in this problem.     

重症监护病房内一起疑似疥疮暴发的调查与防治

目的 分析重症监护病房内一起疑似疥疮的流行规律、临床特征,为采取有效预防与控制措施提供科学依据. 方法 采取病例查阅和现场流行病学调查的方式,对疑似疥疮暴发的时间分布、空间分布及人群分布等特征进行分析. 结果 本次调查发现,2011年8月底至10月中旬在同一重症监护病房内发生3名患者和2名医务人员疑似感染了疥疮,5名医患人员皮疹部位及瘙痒特征相似,发病时间和地点集中,存在交叉感染的可能性.5名医患人员使用硫磺软膏全身涂搽2个疗程后,症状逐渐缓解或消失,治疗效果明显,并给予了疥疮相关知识的教育指导,使用药物治疗和采取消毒隔离等措施后暴发得到控制,再无新发病例. 结论 未能及时考虑感染疥疮的可能性是发生本次医院感染暴发的主要原因.医务人员要掌握疥疮发病的临床特点,早期识别并采取有效的消毒隔离措施,以防止医院感染暴发再次发生.     

某农场肾综合征出血热暴发后的处理

目的 通过分析某农场肾综合征出血热暴发后的处理情况，对传染病的预防和基层医疗工作提出建议。方法 临床病例分析和流行病学调查。结果 这起暴发与基层医疗及预防不到位有直接关系。结论 大灾之后防大疫是一项长期行为，而非一时的突击预防所能解决的问题；基层卫生预防和临床专业队伍业务素质亟待提高。     

Seroprevalence of antibodies to pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus among health care workers in two general hospitals after first outbreak in Kobe, Japan

Objective

To assess the prevalence including asymptomatic infection, infection risk of exposure to patients, and effectiveness of personal protective equipment (PPE) among health care workers (HCWs) during the first pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (pH1N1) outbreak in Kobe, Japan in May 2009.

Methods

A cross-sectional seroepidemiological study was conducted on 268 HCWs in the two hospitals in Kobe to which all pH1N1 inpatients were directed. Participating HCWs completed a self-administrated questionnaire and provided a single serum sample which was analyzed using a hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody test.

Results

Of 268 subjects, 14 (5.2%) were found to have positive antibodies to the pH1N1 by HI assay; only 1 reported a febrile episode. Among the 14 seropositive cases, 8 received chemoprophylaxis. 162 HCWs (60.4%) had been exposed to patients. The seropositive rate (SPR) for pH1N1 of the exposed group was higher than that of the unexposed group, however not statistically significant (6.8% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.197). There were no statistically significant differences in SPR for any PPE.

Conclusion

The SPR for pH1N1 in the exposed group was higher than that of the unexposed group in HCWs; however, most of these individuals were asymptomatic. There was no statistically significant association between PPE implementation and pH1N1 seropositivity.     

An outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni enteritis in a school of Madrid, Spain

An outbreak of gastroenteritis caused by Campylobacter infection was identified in May 2003 in a school in Madrid, Spain. Eighty one cases were identified in a total of 253 people studied. A retrospective cohort study showed that a custard made with ultra high temperature (UHT) milk was associated with illness (RR: 3.15; 95% CI: 1.25-7.93). The custard was probably contaminated with Campylobacter jejuni from a raw chicken prepared a day previously in the same kitchen. Our recommendations were to periodically remind the school s authorities how to act if an outbreak should be suspected, to include the monitoring of a food handler s working day in each environmental investigation in order to detect any risk behaviour; to implement microbiological analysis from the surfaces and utensils of the collective kitchens and improve the sanitary education of food handlers.