Notes from the Field: Health Care-Associated Outbreak of Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis--West Virginia, 2015.

On September 4, 2015, the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health (WVBPH) was notified by an urban ophthalmology practice of 13 patients with epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) diagnosed during the preceding 3 weeks. EKC is an eye infection characterized by severe inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea, and can result in vision loss. Pathogens commonly detected in EKC outbreaks are human adenovirus (HAdV) serotypes 8, 19, and 37, which are spread person-to-person or by fomites; no vaccines or effective antiviral treatments are available.

Partnering for perioperative skin assessment: a time to change a practice culture.

Front line staff identified skin tears and stage one pressure ulcers on post-surgical patients undergoing surgical interventions lasting longer than 2 hours. Collaboration between unit-based councils from the operating room, post-anesthesia care unit, and post-surgical units established a new process for early identification and prevention of surgical acquired pressure ulcers (SAPUs). Interdepartmental collaboration was essential to identifying patient safety concerns and developing a new process of pre-evaluation, early identification, and prevention of SAPUs.

Safety and pharmacokinetics of ribavirin for the treatment of la crosse encephalitis.

Background: La Crosse viral encephalitis (LACVE) is associated with residual epilepsy and neurocognitive deficits in survivors. This report summarizes 3 phases of clinical studies of children treated with intravenous (IV) ribavirin (RBV), each one exploring a different phase (I, IIA, IIB) of clinical trial development.

Methods: In phase I, 7 children with life-threatening LACVE were treated with emergency use RBV using a moderate IV dose (8.

Viral gastroenteritis in Charleston, West Virginia, in 2007: from birth to 99 years of age.

Objective: To describe factors associated with a rectal swab or stool sample positive for norovirus, rotavirus, or adenovirus.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Charleston Area Medical Center, a regional academic medical center in Charleston, West Virginia.

Gastrointestinal norovirus in the Charleston, West Virginia area-2007: birth to 99 years of age.

Data were collected on all patients in the Charleston, WV area tested for norovirus gastroenteritis during 2007. Of the 2687 rectal swab/stool samples, 60% were from individuals <20 years of age. Stool samples were more likely to be positive compared with rectal swab samples and if obtained from January to July and from patients <5 years of age.