Distribution of rotavirus VP4 genotypes and VP7 serotypes among nonhospitalized and hospitalized patients with gastroenteritis and patients with nosocomially acquired gastroenteritis in Austria

To assess the potential benefits of a reassortant tetravalent rotavirus vac cine, we investigated stool specimens from children in three different grou ps by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) for rotavirus G and P types: (i) c hildren not hospitalized with community-acquired rotavirus-acute gastroente ritis (RV-AGE), (ii) children hospitalized for RV-AGE, and (iii) children w ith nosocomially acquired RV-AGE. From a total of 553 samples investigated, 335 were positive by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, of which 294 (88%) were positive by RT-PCR Among the RT-PCR-positive samples, the predominant types were G1P[8] (84%), followed by G4P[8] (9%) and G3P[8] (2%), No diffe rences between the three groups were observed, suggesting that community va ccination will diminish the most cost-relevant cases of hospitalizations an d nosocomial infections.