Clinical Manifestations and Radiologic Findings in Adenovirus Respiratory Outbreak in Isfahan Dastgerd Prison, Iran, 2012

Human adenoviruses can cause a wide spectrum of infections including respiratory and ocular disease, gastroenteritis and cystitis. Although adenovirus respiratory infection occurs in children and neonates but several outbreaks of acute respiratory disease (ARD) are documented in military recruits. In a cross-sectional survey in autumn 2012, all prisoner patients with acute lower respiratory disease referred to Emergency room of Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran, were enrolled in this study. For diagnosis of the etiology, a panel of different tests was used including PCR (polymerase chain reaction) for respiratory pathogens. From 23 cases, 21 were positive for adenovirus types in PCR assay of brochoalveolar lavage (BAL). All other Microbiologic tests including Gram staining, culture, and Ziehl-Neelsen staining were negative. The most prevalent radiologic finding in chest X-ray was bilateral interstitial infiltration. Acute respiratory infection by adenovirus may be a cause in respiratory outbreaks in closed environments like prisons and military recruits. PCR is a valuable diagnostic method for early and accurate diagnosis.