[Nosocomial epidemic of echovirus type 7 in a neonatology department].

Epidemiology, clinical features and laboratory results of a nosocomial outbreak of Echovirus 7 infections are described. After the admission of the index case with presumably perinatal infection to the neonatology unit, 3 additional babies from the total of 16 patients on the ward were infected. A 5th baby in another unit was also infected; this baby shared in part the nursing staff with the other group. Clinical symptoms of the infection were fever (5 children), gastrointestinal (5) and neurological symptoms (4), apnea and bradycardia (1), and a fine macular rash (1). Five of the 24 persons of the staff suffered from a febrile gastroenteritis during this period. The virus was isolated from stool swabs, throat swabs, urine, blood and CFS. An augmented percentage of immature neutrophils in the peripheral blood count was the only laboratory value found to be abnormal in all of the children. We measured neutralizing antibodies against this virus in an immunoglobulin preparation for i.v. use (Sandoglobulin), to get information about its prophylactic value in these cases. We could not detect any neutralizing antibodies.