Prevalence of Nosocomial Diarrhea Due to Adenoviruses 40 and 41 in a Paediatric Ward in Iran.

BACKGROUND Enteric adenoviruses 40 (Ad40) and adenovirus 41 (Ad41) have been shown to be a significant cause of paediatric gastroenteritis worldwide, but no data are available for nosocomial diarrhea due to adenovirus in Iran. AIM The present study was performed to determine the incidence of Ad40 and Ad41 in children less than five years with nosocomial diarrhea in Shahrekord, southwest Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS Adenovirus was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in stool samples collected during one year (2010-2011) from children less than five years with nosocomial diarrhea admitted to a paediatric center in Shahrekord, Iran. Nosocomial diarrhea was defined as those occurring more than 72 hours after admission to hospital for non-diarrheal causes. PCR technique was used for investigation of Ad40 and Ad41. RESULTS In total of 100 samples, Ad40 and Ad41 DNA was found to be positive in 14/100 (14%), and 8/100 (8%) of diarrheic patients less than five years, respectively. CONCLUSION Ad40 and Ad41 are important causes of nosocomial diarrhea in less than five-year, hospitalized Iranian children.