Incidence of healthcare-associated gastroenteritis in children hospitalized on paediatric ward in provincial hospital in 2007-2013.

Objective: This article aimed at evaluating the incidence and distribution of healthcare-associated (HAI) gastroenteritis (GE) in patients hospitalized on paediatric ward in St. Lukas Provincial Hospital in Tarnów.

Introduction: Gastroenteritis remains a common manifestation of healthcare-associated infections on paediatric wards. In Poland, there are limited data on the proportion of healthcare-associated GE in the epidemiology of healthcare-associated infections. It was decided to present the incidence and etiology of these infections in a 7 year study period.

Methods: For the purpose of this study, standard definitions of healthcare-associated infections issued by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) were adopted. Cumulative incidence rates and incidence density rates were calculated.

Results: A total of 11,966 records of children hospitalized in 2007-2013 were subject to analysis. In this period, 251 healthcare-associated gastroenteritis cases of viral etiology were identified. For these infections, cumulative incidence rate (CIR) and incidence density rate (IDR) were 2.11% and 3.37/1,000 person-days, respectively. GE was most frequently reported in children aged less than 2 years (average - 1.6, SD - 2.1). Average hospitalization of a child who was not diagnosed with healthcare-associated GE was 6.2 days while for GE case it amounted to 11.2 days. GE was equally present in girls and boys, i.e. 2.1%. Rotavirus-induced GE was the most commonly diagnosed (GE-RV - Rotavirus Gastroenteritis). Such virus was identified in 189 children (CIR - 1.58%, IDR - 2.51/1,000 person-days). Rotavirus GE was followed by concomitant infections with rotaviruses and adenoviruses. A total of 12 patients were diagnosed with such co-infection (CIR - 0.10%, IDR - 0.16/1,000 person-days). Infections caused by adenoviruses (GE-AV - Adenovirus Gastroenteritis) occurred in 7 patients (CIR - 0.06%, IDR - 0.09/1,000 person-days). For 43 (17%) children, etiological agents of healthcare-associated GE were not determined.

Summary: Rotaviruses were the most commonly identified etiological agents of healthcare-associated gastroenteritis on paediatric ward. Children aged less than 2 years were those most frequently affected.