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A large outbreak of keratoconjunctivitis due to adenovirus type 8

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2009

Shirley Richmond ,
Reeta Burman ,
Elaine Crosdale ,
Linda Cropper ,
Damien Longson ,
Bridget E. Enoch  and
C. L. Dodd
Shirley Richmond
Affiliation:
North Manchester Regional Virus Laboratory, Holzel Laboratory, Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Charlestown Road, Manchester M9 2AA
Reeta Burman
Affiliation:
North Manchester Regional Virus Laboratory, Holzel Laboratory, Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Charlestown Road, Manchester M9 2AA
Elaine Crosdale
Affiliation:
North Manchester Regional Virus Laboratory, Holzel Laboratory, Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Charlestown Road, Manchester M9 2AA
Linda Cropper
Affiliation:
North Manchester Regional Virus Laboratory, Holzel Laboratory, Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Charlestown Road, Manchester M9 2AA
Damien Longson
Affiliation:
North Manchester Regional Virus Laboratory, Holzel Laboratory, Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Charlestown Road, Manchester M9 2AA
Bridget E. Enoch
Affiliation:
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester M13 9WH
C. L. Dodd
Affiliation:
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester M13 9WH
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Summary

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A large nosocomial outbreak of keratoconjunctivitis due to adenovirus type 8 is described. Two hundred cases were identified, 123 by isolation of the virus and 77 by detecting HI antibodies in convalescent sera. Infection usually presented as a severe keratoconjunctivitis, and 107 (54%) of infected patients developed sub-epithelial corneal opacities. The majority (66%) of infections were acquired at the accident and emergency department attached to a large urban eye hospital when patients attended for other reasons; trauma to the eye, especially corneal foreign bodies, was the most frequent cause for the initial attendance. Transmission of virus within the family occurred in 13% of cases, but there was little spread outside family or hospital environments. The outbreak lasted from May to September, 1982, but it was not confirmed by isolation of the virus until the end of June when control measures were instituted. Delay in applying control measures was probably the major factor accounting for this large, prolonged outbreak of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 93 , Issue 2 , October 1984 , pp. 285 - 291
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1984

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