Background: Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis is an acute, generally bilateral infection, that appears sporadically or in outbreaks from a source of common infection which may be a visit to the ophthalmologist or a swimming pool. Keratitis may evolve to form sub-epithelial injuries in the cornea lasting as much as several months.
Methods: Description of an outbreak of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis that took place in Navarra (Spain) between April and August 1996 and which affected at least 266 people.
Results: The epidemiological research highlights the existence of two ophthalmologist consulting rooms as the transmission mechanism for the infection in 46 of the 116 patients researched. The spread of the infection in the environment of the patients was recorded in 119 cases, 62 of which are considered secondary cases. The aetiological diagnosis of the outbreak was carried out 11 days after the start of the microbiological research, isolating adenovirus in conjunctival samples of 8 of the 19 patients researched.
Conclusions: The preventive measures taken to control the outbreak and their effectiveness was highlighted by the gradual reduction in cases.