Outbreak of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis caused by adenovirus in medical residents

[摘要] Purpose: The present work documents anoutbreak of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis among ophthalmologyresidents, its influence in the presentation of the community cases,the use of molecular techniques for its diagnosis, and theimplementation of successful control measures for its containment. Methods: Isolation of the etiologicagent was achieved using cultured African green monkey kidneyepithelial cells (VERO). Through molecular tests, such as polymerasechain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing, the genotype of the isolatedvirus was identified. The sequences obtained were aligned with datareported in the NCBI GenBank. A scheme of outbreak control measures wasdesigned to enforce correct sanitary measures in the clinic. Thestatistical program, Epi info2002, and openepi were used to determine the attack rate. The ExcelMicrosoft® program was used to elaborate the endemic channel. Results: Nine of the ten samples studiedwere isolated from the culture and identified by Adenovirus-specifcPCR. Sequencing allowed identification of Ad8 as the agent responsiblefor the outbreak. The attack rate was 24.39 cases per 100. The epidemiccurve allowed identification of a disseminated source in the Instituteof Ophthalmology “Conde de Valenciana.” It was not possible tocalculate the incubation periods among the cases. The endemic channelshowed the presence of an epidemic keratoconjunctivitis among thepatients that had been cared for at the out-patient services of theinstitute. Conclusions: One outbreak of adisseminated source caused by Ad8 was detected in the institute amongits medical residents, probably associated with relaxation of thehabitual sanitary measures during an epidemic of hemorrhagicconjunctivitis among the patients cared for at the institute. Theproposed scheme to control the outbreak allowed for its containment andcontrolled the epidemic of associated cases.

[学科分类] 生物化学/生物物理