Abstract:
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 caseecontrol 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: 1.9e163.0;
P ¼ 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.
