Study on enterovirus infection in family close contacts of patients with hand, foot and mouth disease and the contamination of environment / 中华传染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To understand the enterovirus infection in family close contacts of patients with hand,foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and the contamination of environment.Methods Forty-one HFMD cases confirmed by laboratory from web-based surveillance system during July to August 2010 in Guangdong Province were selected.All members of the cases′ family were investigated by collecting their information on demography,habit of domestic hygiene and hygiene status in household.The stool samples of all members and the smear samples from the surface of family belongings from 16 families were collected and the enterovirus was detected by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.The data were analyzed by chi square teat and t test.ResultsForty-one HFMD cases′ families and 135 close contacts were included in this survey.The infection rate of the enterovirus was 39.2％ (53/135) in all close contacts.Of all the investigated families,the infectionrate was 58.5％ (24/41) in family with one or more close contacts and 9.8％ (4/41) in family with all close contacts.The differences of infection rates of enterovirus among the members of parents (32.5％,25/77),grandparents/aunts/ uncles (43.3％,13/30) and cousins (53.6％,15/28) didn′t show statistical significance (χ2 =4.07,P=0.131).The infection rate of enterovirus in close contacts from family with more than 5 members was higher than that from family with 4 or less members (OR=1.4,95％CI 1.1-1.9).Among 135 close contacts,27.4％ (37/135) were infected with the same types of entervirus as that of HFMD case in the family and 11.9％ (16/135) were infected with the different virus types.In 33 family belongings samples from 16 families,the positive rate of enterovirus detection was 6.1％ (2/33).Between 17 families with enterovirus testing negative and 23 families with enterovirus testing positive in close contacts,there were no statistical differences of the family hygiene status,hand-washing of babysitter,disinfection of tableware and drinking,sharing towels,airing bedding articles and toy cleaning (P＞0.05).ConclusionsThe infection rate of enterovirus in close contacts of HFMD cases is high and the enterovirus contamination exists in case family environment.Management of close contacts of HFMD cases and disinfection of the family environment are important in HFMD controls.