PREVALENCE OF ASTROVIRUSES IN A CHILDRENS-HOSPITAL

An enzyme immunoassay for astrovirus was used to screen 357 stool samp les fi om 267 symptomatic inpatients at a tertiary-care children's hos pital. Thirty stool samples from 26 patients contained astrovirus anti gen, while rotavirus was found in 34 samples and Clostridium difficile toxin was found in 40. Half of the astrovirus infections were nosocom ial, Additional pathogens were identified in six of the astrovirus ant igen-positive stool samples. Most (80%) of the astroviruses recovered were off serotype 1. Astrovirus infections were significantly more com mon than rotavirus or C. difficile infections in very young infants an d in those with surgical short-bowel syndrome.