First report of two consecutive respiratory syncytial virus outbreaks by the novel genotypes ON-1 and NA-2 in a neonatal intensive care unit

• Published in: Jornal de pediatria 2020-03, Vol.96 (2), p.233-239
• Main Authors: Silva, Daniella Gregoria Bomfim Prado da, Almeida, Flávia Jacqueline, Arnoni, Mariana Volpe, Sáfadi, Marco Aurélio Palazzi, Mimica, Marcelo Jenne, Jarovsky, Daniel, Rossetti, Gabriela Pereira de Almeida, Magalhães, Mauricio, Oliveira, Danielle Bruna Leal de, Thomazelli, Luciano Matsumiya, Colmanetti, Thais Cristina, Durigon, Edison Luiz, Berezin, Eitan Naaman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brazil; Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; Genotype; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; NA-2; Neonatal intensive care unit; ON-1; Original; Outbreak; PEDIATRICS; Prospective Studies; Respiratory syncytial virus; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections; Surto; Unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal; Vírus sincicial respiratório
• ISSN: 0021-7557; 1678-4782; 1678-4782
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jped.2018.10.014

Respiratory syncytial virus is a pathogen frequently involved in nosocomial outbreaks. Although several studies have reported nosocomial outbreaks in neonatal intensive care units, molecular epidemiology data are scarce. Here, the authors describe two consecutive respiratory syncytial virus outbreaks caused by genotypes ON-1 and NA-2 in a neonatal intensive care unit in São Paulo, Brazil. A prospective search for respiratory syncytial virus was performed after diagnosing the index case and four other symptomatic newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit. Nasopharyngeal aspirate samples of all patients in the neonatal intensive care unit were tested for 17 respiratory viruses using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Genotyping was performed using nucleotide sequencing. From May to August 2013, two different outbreaks were detected in the neonatal intensive care unit. A total of 20 infants were infected with respiratory syncytial virus-A (ten and 14 with ON-1 and NA-2 genotypes, respectively). The mean age of the infants was 10 days, mean birth weight was 1,961g, and the mean gestational age was 33 weeks. Risk factors (heart disease, lung disease, and prematurity) were present in 80% and 85.7% of infants in the ON-1 and NA-2 groups, respectively. In total, 45.8% of infants were asymptomatic and 20.8% required mechanical ventilation. Coinfections were not detected during the outbreaks. Infants in a neonatal intensive care unit who develop abrupt respiratory symptoms should be tested for respiratory viruses, especially respiratory syncytial virus. Even in the absence of severe symptoms, respiratory syncytial virus detection can prevent nosocomial transmission through infection control measures. A better understanding of respiratory syncytial virus molecular epidemiology is essential for developing new vaccines and antiviral drugs against respiratory syncytial virus. O vírus sincicial respiratório é um patógeno frequentemente envolvido em surtos nosocomiais. Embora vários estudos tenham relatado tais surtos em unidades de terapia intensiva neonatal, os dados epidemiológicos moleculares são escassos. Neste artigo, descrevemos dois surtos consecutivos de vírus sincicial respiratório causados pelos genótipos ON-1 e NA-2 em uma unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal em São Paulo, Brasil. Uma busca prospectiva por vírus sincicial respiratório foi realizada após o diagnóstico do caso índice e outros quatro recém-nascidos sintomáticos na unid