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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, August 2005, p. 3890-3894, Vol. 43, No. 8
0095-1137/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.43.8.3890-3894.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Use of a Heminested Reverse Transcriptase PCR Assay for Detection of Astrovirus in Environmental Swabs from an Outbreak of Gastroenteritis in a Pediatric Primary Immunodeficiency Unit

Enteric Virus Unit, Virus Reference Department, Centre for Infections, Health Protection Agency Colindale, London, United Kingdom,¹ Newcastle Laboratory, Health Protection Agency North East,² Primary Immunodeficiency Unit, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle, United Kingdom,³ Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, United Kingdom,⁴ Leeds Laboratory, Health Protection Agency Yorkshire and Humber, Leeds, United Kingdom⁵

Received 15 December 2004/ Returned for modification 7 April 2005/ Accepted 7 May 2005

An outbreak of astrovirus gastroenteritis occurred in the Primary Immunodeficiency Unit at Newcastle General Hospital in March 2004. Environmental swabbing of the unit was undertaken after the outbreak, with multiple sites swabbed pre- and postcleaning. Astroviruses were detected in four environmental swabs and from two patient fecal samples using heminested reverse transcriptase PCR. An astrovirus genotype 3 strain was identified in both environmental swabs and fecal specimens and was the strain identified as being responsible for the outbreak. Environmental transmission of the virus was thought to have occurred by contamination of a syringe pump outside the laminar-flow curtain of a patient who was admitted with astrovirus gastroenteritis. This was subsequently transmitted to a cubicle next door and to a television/games console in a parents' room in the ward. Environmental monitoring of surfaces/equipment, using PCR assays for gastroenteric viruses in hospital situations where infection can give rise to serious clinical complications, may have a role in controlling and monitoring cleaning and the subsequent prevention of nosocomial transmission of gastroenteritis.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Gallimore, C. I., Taylor, C., Gennery, A. R., Cant, A. J., Galloway, A., Iturriza-Gomara, M., Gray, J. J. (2006). Environmental Monitoring for Gastroenteric Viruses in a Pediatric Primary Immunodeficiency Unit. J. Clin. Microbiol. 44: 395-399 [Abstract] [Full Text]