[Evolution of the number of rotavirus and respiratory syncytial virus infections in children hospitalised in a French university hospital between 1998 and 2005].

AIM

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Rotavirus infections represent up to 30% of cross infections in pediatric units. As they are a major public health problem, we studied their evolution and distribution at the Dijon University Hospital.

POPULATION AND METHODS

This exhaustive retrospective study included children under 15 with a new Rotavirus or RSV infection who were hospitalised at the Dijon University Hospital between 1998 and 2005. The general trend was determined by using moving averages, and the Spearman correlation coefficient r(s) was calculated.

RESULTS

From 1998 to 2005, 1886 new RSV (n=981) or Rotavirus (n=905) infections were identified in hospitalised children. The number of the infections decreased significantly, both for RSV (r(s)=-0.71 ; p<0.0001) and for Rotavirus (r(s)=-0.77 ; p<0.0001). Almost half of Rotavirus infections were nosocomial (46.3%) vs 5.3% of RSV infections, p<0.0001. There was no significant difference in the proportion of RSV nosocomial infections between the epidemic and non-epidemic period (4.9% of nosocomial infections vs 7.1% respectively, p=0.25). Rotavirus nosocomial infections were less frequent in epidemic period (41.6%) than in non-epidemic period (54.6%); p=0.0002.

CONCLUSION

RSV and Rotavirus infections significantly decreased between 1998 and 2005. Proportion of RSV or Rotavirus infections didn't increase in epidemic period, which could be explained both by an increased attention from healthcare professionals and by the effectiveness of hygiene measures taken.