Transmission of respiratory syncytial virus at the paediatric intensive-care unit: a prospective study using real-time PCR.

ABSTRACT

Transmission of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) from children with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) at a paediatric intensive-care unit (PICU) was examined using a highly sensitive real-time PCR. Twenty-four children with RSV LRTI were admitted during the study period (total days of potential transmission 239). Forty-eight RSV-negative patients were followed up for RSV acquisition every 5 days (total days of exposure 683). No single RSV transmission was documented with this highly sensitive diagnostic method. Therefore, routine infection control measures of LRTI patients seem to be adequate to prevent RSV transmission at the PICU.