Adenoviral Infections in Children: The Impact of Rapid Diagnosis

• DOI: 10.1542/peds.113.1.e51
• Publication Date: 2004-08-14T00:53:04Z
• Authors: Christian Rocholl; Kris Gerber; Judy Daly; Andrew T. Pavia; Carrie L. Byington
• Keywords: Viral culture

Background. Adenovirus (ADV) infections were difficult to diagnose in the past, and many unrecognized. Direct fluorescent assay (DFA) for rapid diagnosis of ADV infection, as part a viral respiratory panel, became available at Primary Children’s Medical Center (Salt Lake City, UT) December 2000. Objective. To describe children with infection diagnosed by DFA culture document impact testing on patient care. Methods. viruses including was performed nasal wash specimens parallel culture. Chart review all ADV-positive patients identified from microbiology records between 2000 May 2002. Results. Of 1901 positive viruses, 143 (7.5%) or The mean age 23 months; 90% ≤60 months old. Eighty percent previously healthy, 56% required admission length stay 3.4 days. most common diagnoses included fever (31%), bronchiolitis (24%), pneumonia (14%). Other conditions suspected Kawasaki disease (KD) hepatitis. Forty-six given antibiotics presentation, but only 2 (1.4%) had documented bacterial (one Escherichia coli urinary tract one Moraxella catarrhalis bacteremia). Thirty-six change management based DFA. In KD (n = 5), 100% DFA, immune globulin withheld 4. One immunocompetent fulminant liver failure received cidofovir treatment after recovered before transplant. Conclusions. is young often results unnecessary antibiotic therapy. Identifying cause illness can favorably care some instances may be life-saving. should considered infants requiring fever, illness, KD,