Molecular epidemiology of two consecutive outbreaks of parainfluenza 3 in a bone marrow transplant unit.

Abstract

Two consecutive nosocomial outbreaks of parainfluenza 3, in which 5 of 15 infected patients died, occurred in an adult bone marrow transplant unit. Parainfluenza 3 strain variation was assessed by reverse transcription-PCR sequencing of part of the parainfluenza 3 F gene, including the noncoding region, directly from clinical samples. Sequence data from the outbreaks were compared with those from 15 other parainfluenza 3 isolates circulating concurrently in the community; altogether, 13 strains which fell into three lineages were identified. Four immunosuppressed patients shed virus persistently for between 1 and 4 months without change in sequence. The first outbreak lasted 4 months and involved three parainfluenza 3 strains, and one persistently infected patient was implicated as the source of infection for three others. The second outbreak lasted for 1 month but involved only one strain. These data indicate that introduction of community parainfluenza 3 strains to the bone marrow transplant unit was followed by person-to-person transmission within the unit rather than reintroduction of virus from the community.

• Authors: M Zambon, T Bull, C J Sadler, J M Goldman, K N Ward
• Journal: Journal of clinical microbiology (J Clin Microbiol) Vol. 36 Issue 8 Pg. 2289-93 (Aug 1998) ISSN: 0095-1137 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9666007 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Viral Fusion Proteins

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Base Sequence
• Bone Marrow Transplantation
• Cross Infection (epidemiology, virology)
• Disease Outbreaks
• Female
• Hospitals, Urban
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Molecular Epidemiology
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Parainfluenza Virus 3, Human (genetics, isolation & purification)
• Phylogeny
• Polymerase Chain Reaction (methods)
• Respirovirus Infections (diagnosis, epidemiology, virology)
• Sequence Analysis, DNA
• United Kingdom (epidemiology)
• Viral Fusion Proteins (genetics)