Dissemination of human adenoviruses and rotavirus species A on fomites of hospital pediatric units

Abstract

Rotavirus A and human adenovirus dissemination were demonstrated both in a pediatric ward and in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the same pediatric hospital. Virus detection from fomites samples were higher in the pediatric ward (42.3% [137 out of 324]) than in the NICU (4.5% [7 out of 156]), revealing that cleaning processes used in our NICU are effective in reducing viral contamination, suggesting human adenovirus as a potential biomarker of contamination of hospital fomites.

Keywords: Hospital infection; Hospital surfaces; Neonatal intensive care unit.