An Outbreak of Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis at an Outpatient Ophthalmology Clinic

Abstract

Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) is an acute eye infection caused by adenovirus. We investigated an outbreak of EKC at an outpatient ophthalmology practice in the context of a suspected community wide increase in EKC activity. A site visit was made to the facility reporting the outbreak. A line list was created of patients clinically diagnosed with EKC at the practice during the previous 5 months. A questionnaire was faxed to all other licensed ophthalmologists in the county regarding recent EKC activity in their facility. Descriptive data analyses were conducted. The outbreak facility reported 37 patients clinically diagnosed with EKC during the previous 5 months. In addition, the single ophthalmologist at the practice also had symptoms compatible with EKC during the outbreak period. Specimens were collected on 4 patients and all were positive for adenovirus serotype 8. Forty percent of ophthalmologists surveyed in the county saw at least one EKC patient in the previous 3 months, and 20% reported a perceived increase in EKC activity in recent months over normal seasonal patterns. The outbreak at the facility likely began as part of a widespread community increase in EKC that may have been amplified at the facility through nosocomial transmission. Medical providers experiencing increases in EKC activity above seasonally expected norms should contact their public health department for assistance with etiologic diagnoses and outbreak control.

An Outbreak of Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis Caused by Human Adenovirus Type 8 in Primary School, Southwest China

“…The duration of the disease observed in this outbreak was basically consistent with that of a previous study [36]. Regarding the risk factors for transmission, previous studies have focused on risk factors for transmission in hospitals [25,27,[31][32][33][34][35][36][37]. Our research reveals the risk factors for school transmission in remote areas in developing countries.…”

“…Since the 1980s, EKC outbreaks caused by HAdV-8 have been reported in different countries and regions of the world. Most of the outbreaks were caused by iatrogenic ophthalmic transmission in hospitals [25,27,[31][32][33][34][35][36][37]. Two outbreaks of EKC in two schools in the Tibet autonomous region were reported for the first time in mainland China.…”

“…School attendance suspension may also prevent the outbreak from continuing. Most EKC outbreaks show two or more peaks, with different intervals of time between them [25,[31][32][33][34]38]. It may be that a large number of people are exposed in groups at different times.…”

An Outbreak of Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis Caused by Human Adenovirus Type 8 in Primary School, Southwest China

“…Since the 1980s, EKC outbreaks caused by HAdV-8 have been reported in different countries and regions of the world. Most of the outbreaks were caused by iatrogenic transmission of ophthalmology in hospital s [25,27,[31][32][33][34][35][36][37]. Two outbreaks of EKC in two schools in Tibet Autonomous region were reported for the first time in mainland China.…”

An Outbreak of Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis Caused by Human Adenovirus Type 8 in Primary School, Southwest China

“…Since the 1980s, EKC outbreaks caused by HAdV-8 have been reported in different countries and regions of the world. Most of the outbreaks were caused by iatrogenic transmission of ophthalmology in hospitals [25,27,[31][32][33][34][35][36][37]. Two outbreaks of EKC in two schools in Tibet Autonomous region were reported for the first time in mainland China.…”