Abstract
Background: Parainfluenza viruses cause respiratory tract infections in adults and children, with peak activity during the spring and summer months. Human parainfluenza virus type 3 (hPIV-3) can contribute to significant morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Methods: Automated surveillance software was used to identify an hPIV-3 outbreak in an HSCT clinic. Active surveillance for respiratory illness and infection control measures were instituted. A retrospective molecular investigation of outbreak viral strains was performed by direct sequencing. Results: Twelve of 196 HSCT recipients attending the clinic during the outbreak period had hPIV-3; one of these patients died. Sequencing demonstrated highly related strains in 9 of 10 patients studied. Despite the ongoing presence of hPIV-3 outside the inpatient/outpatient care continuum clinic, only 2 cases were observed after institution of respiratory season infection control measures. Conclusions: This investigation demonstrates the utility of surveillance software in the identification of respiratory virus outbreaks and the importance of rapid implementation of infection control/prevention measures for containment of outbreaks.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 601-605 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | American Journal of Infection Control |
Volume | 40 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 2012 |
Keywords
- Immunocompromised
- Surveillance
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Epidemiology
- Health Policy
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Infectious Diseases