First description of gastroenteritis viruses in Lebanese children: a pilot study

Human enteric viruses are important causes of acute gastroenteritis in infants and children. The role of rotaviruses, adenoviruses, human caliciviruses and astroviruses in the development of severe acute gastroenteritis requiring hospitalization of infants and young children in North Lebanon was investigated. Stool specimens collected between April and May 2010 from 79 Lebanese infants and children hospitalized for severe acute gastroenteritis, were screened for enteric viruses by immunoassays and internally controlled multiplex PCR assay. Out of 79 stool samples, 38 [48%] were positive for rotavirus, and 5 [6%] were positive for norovirus genogroup II. Enteric adenoviruses, sapoviruses and human astroviruses were not detected. Children with severe rotavirus gastroenteritis were younger than those with severe norovirus gastroenteritis. These results highlight the importance of rotavirus and norovirus as causes of severe gastroenteritis in Lebanese children, and the need to incorporate routine screening tests for norovirus infection in clinical settings

[Preliminary study on prevalence of Legionella pneumophila infections in Lebanon]

After the first outbreak of Legionnaire disease was described for the first time in 1976, legionellosis has been increasingly recognized in association with many outbreaks, both community and hospital acquired. This disease remains a model of water borne transmission. In Lebanon, no report has yet been published on the prevalence of Legionella pneumophila infections. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of legionellosis in hospitalized patients with community acquired pneumonia [CAP] and in patients with nosocomial pneumonia [HAP]. The study was conducted between April 2004 and August 2007. Eleven community hospitals participated to this endeavour. Laboratory evaluation was conducted in two centers [Middle East Health Institute, Bsalim, Lebanon and Nini Hospital, Tripoli, Lebanon]. Two hundred and forty two urinary samples and ninety one pulmonary samples from 242 patients were analyzed. The age range was 16 to 71 years. Two hundred and fifteen were from community acquired pneumonias and twenty seven were nosocomially acquired in intensive care units. The urinary antigen was investigated in 242 patients; the Binax kit" was used in this research. In lung secretions of 91 patients, the presence of Legionella pneumophila was searched for using direct immunofluorescence method and culture. Among the 215 urinary samples from patients with CAP, three were positive for Legionella antigen with a prevalence of 1.4%. Among the 27 patients with HAP, one was positive for Legionella antigen with a prevalence of 3.7%. This preliminary study reveals the fact that legionellosis is indeed present in Lebanon, hence the importance of considering it in the work-up and the management of patients with pneumonia. Hospital laboratories should therefore routinely search for this pathogen through at least urinary antigen detection. Health authorities should also enforce microbiological regulations concerning water sanitation in hospitals and in the community to prevent the establishment of this pathogen and prevent outbreaks such as those witnessed recently in many countries