PREVALENCE OF ROTAVIRUS ON HIGH-RISK FOMITES IN DAY-CARE FACILITIES

Study objective. The objective of this study was to determine the prev alence of rotavirus contamination on environmental surfaces in day-car e environments, using the polymerase chain reaction technique. Design. High-risk fomites were identified in two day-care centers and sampled biweekly during a 6-month study period. Water samples from water-play tables in each center were also collected during the study period. Du ring an infectious disease outbreak, fomites were sampled from the roo ms in which the outbreak occurred. Reverse transcriptase/polymerase ch ain reaction was carried out for viral detection of rotavirus from the fomites, and standard bacteriologic measures were used to detect bact eria in samples from water-play tables. Results. A total of 96 fomite samples were tested for presence of rotavirus from the two centers, of which 18/96 (19%) tested positive for rotavirus. The timing of the po sitive samples differed between the two centers. In the center that ho used infants, a peak of rotavirus-positive fomites coincided with two enteric outbreaks. Rotavirus contamination was found on the telephone receiver, drinking fountain, water-play table, and toilet handles in b oth centers. Bacteria in large quantities were also identified in wate r-play table samples. Conclusions. Moist surfaces including the teleph one, water fountains, and water-play tables are common sources of rota virus contamination within the day-care environment. Until a safe and affordable drug or vaccine against rotavirus is available for general use, avoidance of rotaviral infections is the most effective method fo r the prevention of rotavirus gastroenteritis.