1112. Detection of Enteric Viruses in Children With Acute Gastroenteritis

BACKGROUND: Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a major cause of morbidity in children. Viral pathogens are the most common infectious agents. Differences in illness characteristics of AGE with and without virus detection are poorly defined. We compared AGE illness characteristics between children with and without any-virus detected, and with single vs. multiple viruses detected. METHODS: Children between 15 days and 17 years with AGE defined as diarrhea (>3 loose stools/24 hours) or any vomiting within 10 days duration were enrolled in Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital inpatient, ED, and outpatient settings from December 2012 to November 2015. Stool specimens were tested by RT-qPCR for norovirus, sapovirus, and astrovirus and by ELISA (VP6 antigen [Rotaclone(®)]) for rotavirus. RESULTS: Of 3,705 children enrolled, 2,892 (78%) specimens were collected. A single virus was detected in 1,109 (38%) stools [51% norovirus, 20% rotavirus, 21% sapovirus, and 8% astrovirus], viral co-detections were found in 115 (4%) stools, and 1,665 (58%) had no detected viruses. Table 1 compares children with and without any-virus detected. Children with a single-virus detected were older than those with >1 virus detected (1.8 vs. 1.5 years [P < 0.05]) with no other significant differences. CONCLUSION: Children with any-virus detected had more severe symptoms, higher MVS, and more frequently reported sick contacts compared with no-virus detected. Children with no-virus detected were more likely to present with fever and higher temperatures, which may be due to bacterial organisms. These data highlight the importance of infection-prevention precautions in the community and the need for additional testing to define the etiologic spectrum of AGE in children. DISCLOSURES: N. Halasa, sanofi pasteur: Investigator, Research support. GSK: Consultant, Consulting fee. Moderna: Consultant, Consulting fee.