Nosocomial rotavirus infections in a South African hospital nursery for white infants.

Rotavirus infections in a nursery ward for newborn white infants in South Africa do not apparently differ from those encountered in other temperate countries. Neonates began to excrete rotavirus as early as 2 days after birth; a peak incidence of excretion occurred during the winter months. After a period of 4 years the incidence of excretion remained virtually unchanged. Rotaviruses also colonized and spread very rapidly in a newly commissioned nursery ward, possibly via respiratory infections. Passively acquired antibodies had no influence on the prevention of infections but may play a role in the suppression of clinical symptoms since none of the newborn population studied developed gastro-enteritis. The immunosorbent electron microscopy technique used to detect rotaviruses in this study yielded results that compared well with results obtained previously by other techniques.