RSV Outbreak at a Single Postpartum Care Center in Gyeongsangbukdo / 대한주산의학회잡지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We performed an analysis of the RSV outbreak in a postpartum center in Gyeongsangbukdo to provide preliminary data for health and hygiene management of postpartum care centers. METHODS: All of 22 newborns who were transferred to our hospital from a postpartum care center from December 2014 to January 2015 showed positive for RSV by viral culture and enrolled in the study group. To identify early symptoms in RSV infected newborn in the nursery 31 infants (1 month to 24 month of age) who were hospitalized in our hospital due to RSV infection during the same period were selected as control group and clinical symptoms were compared with the study group. A retrospective study was also performed on the newborns who were cared and not transferred to our hospital in the postpartum care center, as well as the facilities offered by the center. RESULTS: All of 22 neonatal patients who were transferred to our hospital had early symptoms of rhinorrhea and cough compared to control group. Rhinorrhea appeared 4.2±2.0 days before the admission, and cough occurred 1.0±1.1 days after rhinorrhea. The level of infection control specified by the law for general facilities relating to postpartum care centers was applied to the postpartum center, RSV infection was not controlled. Strict hand washing, individual equipment such as stethoscopes and exclusion of visitors with respiratory symptoms were done and infected neonates were segregated in separate air circulation system and cared by nurse-infant ratios from 1:1 to 1:2 depending on the needs of the individual neonates. Additional transmission was not observed after transfer to our hospital CONCLUSION: Neonates with cough and rhinorrhea were initial symptom for RSV infection in the postpartum center and should be evaluated for RSV infection during high risk season. Current guideline or support for infection control in postpartum center should be reevaluated for RSV infection control.