Notes from the Field: Health Care-Associated Outbreak of Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis--West Virginia, 2015.

On September 4, 2015, the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health (WVBPH) was notified by an urban ophthalmology practice of 13 patients with epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) diagnosed during the preceding 3 weeks. EKC is an eye infection characterized by severe inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea, and can result in vision loss. Pathogens commonly detected in EKC outbreaks are human adenovirus (HAdV) serotypes 8, 19, and 37, which are spread person-to-person or by fomites; no vaccines or effective antiviral treatments are available. HAdVs that cause EKC are resistant to desiccation and certain common surface disinfectants. Incubation periods of approximately 14 days, prolonged viral shedding, and persistence of live virus on some surfaces for up to 30 days hamper outbreak prevention and control efforts. EKC often occurs simultaneously in health care settings and the community. EKC is not a reportable disease and outbreak reporting is often delayed; the incidence in West Virginia is unknown.

Partnering for perioperative skin assessment: a time to change a practice culture.

Front line staff identified skin tears and stage one pressure ulcers on post-surgical patients undergoing surgical interventions lasting longer than 2 hours. Collaboration between unit-based councils from the operating room, post-anesthesia care unit, and post-surgical units established a new process for early identification and prevention of surgical acquired pressure ulcers (SAPUs). Interdepartmental collaboration was essential to identifying patient safety concerns and developing a new process of pre-evaluation, early identification, and prevention of SAPUs. Specific skin evaluation reports were created to assess the occurrence and prevalence of SAPUs within moments of initial discovery and continuing through the remainder of hospitalization. Patients would have a skin assessment post-operatively performed by the operating room and post-anesthesia care unit nurses together. An internal prevalence study revealed occurrence rates of 7.1% before implementation of interventions. After evaluating 3,035 patients over 2 years and implementation of a new screening process, the prevalence rate was reduced to 3.3%. The resultant decline in SAPUs supports the value of this no-cost change in workflow.

Gastrointestinal norovirus infection associated with exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease.

OBJECTIVE: In this study we aimed to determine, in pediatric patients, whether norovirus infection could be associated with exacerbations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and ascertain whether the clinical expression of norovirus gastroenteritis was similar in patients with IBD compared with non-IBD controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a case-control retrospective chart review, over a 10-month interval, of patients with IBD with an exacerbation of their disease. The presence of norovirus in stool and/or rectal swab samples, as determined by an enzyme-linked immunoassay, was assessed. In addition, sex, age, type of IBD, presence or absence of diarrhea, hematochezia, and the need for hospitalization were determined. A similar number of control patients who did not have IBD were used as controls. RESULTS: Nine patients with IBD (8 ulcerative colitis/1 Crohn disease) had exacerbations with diarrhea. Eight had norovirus antigen in at least 1 sample. All 9 patients with IBD presented with bloody diarrhea and 6 of the 8 norovirus-positive patients with IBD required hospitalization. All of the control patients experienced diarrhea; however, no hematochezia was noted and no hospitalization was required. Several patients with IBD and controls remained positive for norovirus months after the initial positive stool and/or rectal swab sample. The virus appeared to be more common during winter months. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that norovirus may be associated with exacerbations of IBD. When norovirus accompanies IBD it is more likely to be associated with hematochezia than when the infection occurs in the absence of IBD.

Safety and pharmacokinetics of ribavirin for the treatment of la crosse encephalitis.

BACKGROUND: La Crosse viral encephalitis (LACVE) is associated with residual epilepsy and neurocognitive deficits in survivors. This report summarizes 3 phases of clinical studies of children treated with intravenous (IV) ribavirin (RBV), each one exploring a different phase (I, IIA, IIB) of clinical trial development. METHODS: In phase I, 7 children with life-threatening LACVE were treated with emergency use RBV using a moderate IV dose (8.33 mg/kg/dose q 8 hours day 1, 5 mg/kg/dose q 8 hours days 2-10). In phase IIA, 12 children with severe LACVE were enrolled: 8 treated with RBV (same dose as phase I) and 4 with placebo. In phase IIB an escalated dose was used (33 mg/kg dose 1, then 16 mg/kg/dose q 6 hours for 4 days, and 8 mg/kg/dose q 8 hours for 3 days). RESULTS: In a group of 15 children treated in phase I and phase IIA, RBV appeared safe at moderate dose, but based on steady-state RBV levels of 9.3 µM, estimated cerebrospinal fluid levels were less than 20% of the EC50 of RBV for LACVE. At the escalated dose used in phase IIB, adverse events occurred, likely related to RBV, and therefore the trial was discontinued. Nevertheless, valuable pharmacokinetic (PK) and safety data were obtained at moderate dose, with potential treatment implications for other indications. CONCLUSIONS: Although the results do not support the use of RBV for LACVE, this nevertheless is the largest study of antiviral treatment for LACVE to date and the largest pharmacokinetic analysis of IV RBV in children for any indication.

Viral gastroenteritis in Charleston, West Virginia, in 2007: from birth to 99 years of age.

OBJECTIVE: To describe factors associated with a rectal swab or stool sample positive for norovirus, rotavirus, or adenovirus. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Charleston Area Medical Center, a regional academic medical center in Charleston, West Virginia. METHODS: Rectal swab or stool samples were obtained from patients suspected of having viral gastroenteritis. These samples were sent to the Charleston Area Medical Center virology laboratory for testing in 2007. Viral antigen in rectal swab and stool samples is detected by use of commercially available immunoassay kits for each virus. Data were extracted from the virology laboratory database for the following 1-year time period: January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2007. When necessary, additional information was obtained from electronic administrative data on patients. RESULTS: There were 2,867 rectal swab and stool samples available for viral testing. Of these samples, 1,261 (44%) were positive for a virus. Of these positive samples, 972 (77%) were positive for norovirus, 182 (14%) were positive for rotavirus, and 110 (9%) were positive for adenovirus. The patients in the youngest age group had the highest number of test results positive for all 3 viruses. When the test results for the youngest age group (0-9 years) were compared with those for all the other age groups combined (10-99 years), the proportion of positive cases was highest for the youngest age group (P<.001). There were significant seasonal trends for all 3 viruses. Multivariate analysis of norovirus showed that season, source, sex, and age were significant predictors of a positive test result. Multivariate analysis of rotavirus showed that season and source were significant predictors of a positive test result. Multivariate analysis of adenovirus showed that season and age were significant predictors of a positive test result. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude (1) that these 3 viruses are common causes of gastroenteritis in Charleston, West Virginia; (2) that infants and young children are more likely to test positive for these viruses than are older individuals; (3) that norovirus was the most common cause of gastroenteritis; and (4) that there are seasonal trends for all 3 viruses.

Gastrointestinal norovirus in the Charleston, West Virginia area-2007: birth to 99 years of age.

Data were collected on all patients in the Charleston, WV area tested for norovirus gastroenteritis during 2007. Of the 2687 rectal swab/stool samples, 60% were from individuals <20 years of age. Stool samples were more likely to be positive compared with rectal swab samples and if obtained from January to July and from patients <5 years of age.