Outbreak of adenovirus serotype 8 conjunctivitis in preterm infants in a neonatal intensive care unit

Background: Adenovirus keratoconjunctivitis 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 examination was not sterilized between each patient and was found to be the cause of contamination. Conclusion: The outbreak was controlled by measures such as barrier precautions, hand hygiene, sterilization of the blepharostat, suspending patient transfer to other units, and excluding infected HCWs for at least 15 days. (C) 2011 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.