OBJECTIVES
The burden of healthcare-associated viral respiratory infections (HAVRIs) among children is significant. While healthcare workers are often the focus for infection prevention strategies, little is known about the impact of sick caregivers and hospital visitors on the incidence of pediatric HAVRIs. The objective of this descriptive study was to determine the proportion of pediatric HAVRIs following contact with a sick caregiver or visitor.
METHODS
A retrospective chart review was performed of all HAVRIs that occurred between December 2017 and July 2019 in a pediatric tertiary care center. A HAVRI was defined as a laboratory-confirmed respiratory viral illness occurring more than 72 hours after admission.
RESULTS
Forty-four HAVRIs occurred in 37 patients during the study, predominantly among patients aged <24 months (n = 32, 72.7%) and with comorbidities (n = 42, 95.5%). For 9 HAVRIs (20.5%), contact with a sick caregiver (n = 8, 18.2%) or visitor (n = 2, 4.5%) in the 7 days before diagnosis was documented. In the 72 hours before HAVRI onset, 18 of the 44 patients (40.9%) were in a single-bed room and 6 of them (33.3%) were under additional precautions. Twelve patients (27.3%) had new or increased oxygen requirements and 4 (9.1%) were transferred to the ICU. There were no associated deaths.
CONCLUSIONS
Contact with a sick caregiver or visitor is a potential risk factor for acquiring a HAVRI. Our study reinforces the importance of engaging family caregivers in infection prevention and control strategies in pediatric care settings.
Outbreaks of PeV-A3 typically follow a biennial pattern. 1,2 In July 2022, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health advisory to alert clinicians of reports of PeV-A3 cases in multiple states. 2 A similar outbreak was observed in parts of Canada, including Montréal. As with enteroviruses, parechoviruses circulate primarily during summer and fall. 2,3
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