A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Viral acute respiratory infections in neonatal intensive care healthcare workers: a nine-month point-prevalence cohort study
Authors: Luoto, Raakel; Aavasalo Eeli; Waris, Matti; Lehtonen, Liisa; Peltola, Ville; Ruuskanen, Olli
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Publishing place: LONDON
Publication year: 2025
Journal: Journal of Hospital Infection
Journal name in source: Journal of Hospital Infection
Journal acronym: J HOSP INFECT
Volume: 162
First page : 136
Last page: 139
Number of pages: 4
ISSN: 0195-6701
eISSN: 1532-2939
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2025.05.019
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2025.05.019
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/499241463
Background: Healthcare-acquired viral acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are a common problem in neonatal care. Health-care workers may transmit viruses to neonates when having a symptomatic or asymptomatic ARI.
Aim: This prospective nine-month repeated point-prevalence cohort study aimed to investigate the occurrence and aetiology of asymptomatic and symptomatic ARIs in health-care employees in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Methods: Flocked nasal swabs were collected on every second Tuesday in a NICU from all personnel working on that day. Additionally, in the case of ARI symptoms, a nasal swab was self-collected by the study subjects.
Findings: A virus was detected in 16 (3.3%) of the asymptomatic subjects. Altogether 36 symptomatic ARIs (mean 0.5 per person) were reported.
Conclusion: Our data suggests that ARIs are not uncommon among NICU health-care workers and moreover are commonly asymptomatic. It is noteworthy that these individuals may transmit.
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Funding information in the publication:
This study was founded by the Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation.
