Healthcare-associated rotavirus gastroenteritis in a large paediatric hospital in the UK.

Rotavirus is a major cause of acute, community-acquired gastroenteritis in infants and young children but its importance in healthcare-associated paediatric gastroenteritis is much less well understood. A prospective study was undertaken at the Royal Liverpool Children's NHS Trust, Liverpool, UK. We enrolled 243 children with acute gastroenteritis (AGE) who were hospitalised between January and May 2006. Rotavirus was detected in faecal specimens by enzyme immunoassay. This virus was responsible for 17/91 cases (19%) of healthcare-associated AGE and 54/152 cases (36%) of community-acquired AGE. Sixteen children with healthcare-associated acute rotavirus gastroenteritis required source isolation and eight received intravenous rehydration. We conclude that rotavirus is an important cause of healthcare-associated AGE in a large paediatric hospital. Rotavirus vaccines represent a public health tool that could prevent the majority of symptomatic rotavirus infections within this healthcare setting.