Kunnen kinderen met bronchiolitis samen op een kamer verpleegd worden?*

Objective

To determine the prevalence and severity of hospital acquired infections (HAI) in children hospitalized for bronchiolitis, when patients share a room irrespective of the causative virus.

Methods

Prospective cohort study during four winter-seasons (2012-2016) in a Dutch general paediatric ward, including otherwise healthy children <2 years of age hospitalized for bronchiolitis. Patients shared a 1-to-4-bed hospital room irrespective of virological diagnosis. The main outcome measures were HAIs assessed through multiplex polymerase chain reaction and disease severity.

Results

HAIs occurred in 28 of 218 included patients (12.8%), most frequently with rhinovirus (17 of 28; 60.7%). In 3 (10.7%) of 28 HAIs, the same virus was identified in roommates. Only 1 patient became cross-infected with respiratory syncytial virus, although this patient never shared a room with a patient infected with respiratory syncytial virus. HAI was not associated with more severe disease: median length of hospitalisation was 3.5 days (interquartile range [IQR] 1-6) compared to 3 days (IQR 2-6, p = 0.86); the number of PICU admissions was 0% versus 5.3% (p = 0.21); the median days of oxygen supplementation 2.5 (IQR 1-4) versus 2 (IQR 1-4; p = 0.58); the median days of tubefeeding was 2 (IQR 0-5) versus 2 (IQR 0-5; p = 0.77) and the readmission rate was 0% versus 5.8% (p = 0.19) in patients with and without HAI respectively.

Conclusion

Hospital acquired infections among patients with bronchiolitis are common but not associated with more severe disease. Room sharing with appropriate hygiene does not play a relevant role in the transmission of viruses between patients with bronchiolitis, regardless of the viruses involved. On the basis of these findings, we suggest that room sharing of patients with bronchiolitis is safe.

Conflict of interest and financial support: none declared.