Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Adult Astrovirus Gastroenteritis in Metropolitan Washington DC, USA: 2016-2023
Abstract
Astrovirus gastroenteritis is commonly studied in children but not adults. Detection of astrovirus on PCR panels allows for characterization of infected patients. Here, we investigate the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of adult astrovirus infections at our institution.
Stool specimens tested between 01/2016-03/2023 on a gastrointestinal PCR panel (BioFire Diagnostics, Salt Lake City, UT) were analyzed. Chart abstraction was performed to collect patient demographics, laboratory results, clinical presentation and management for patients positive for astrovirus. Fisher Exact Test and 95% Confidence Intervals were calculated where appropriate.
Overall positivity rate of astrovirus was 0.6% (34/5053) with highest (1.02%) in 2018 and none in 2020. The mean age was 32 years old (range:18-52 yo) with majority being Caucasian (56%) and female (56%). Symptoms included diarrhea (100%), abdominal pain (92%), vomiting (47%), and fever (35%).
Comparing patients in age group 30-39 years versus other age groups, vomiting (21% vs 65%, p=0.0173) and fever (40% vs 67%, p=0.717) were less prevalent. More females had abdominal pain (95% vs 87%, p=0.6) while more
males had fever (47% vs 26%, p=0.3) although insignificant. Average period of diarrhea was 3 days (range:1-10 days). 23.5% of patients had increased monocytes (CI 0.29-1.92 x 103/µl), and 29.4% showed decreased lymphocytes (CI 0.29-1.10 x 103/µl). Peak seasons were late winter to spring (February-April). All patients were…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a case series, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health. Reported size: 34 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Patient-Centered Pharmaceutical Design to Improve Acceptability of Medicines: Similarities and Differences in Paediatric and Geriatric Populations
- Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for irritable bowel syndrome 2020
- Phase 2b Study of Pimodivir (JNJ-63623872) as Monotherapy or in Combination With Oseltamivir for Treatment of Acute Uncomplicated Seasonal Influenza A: TOPAZ Trial
- Gastrointestinal manifestations in COVID-19
- COVID-19 and Gastrointestinal Disease: Implications for the Gastroenterologist
- Persistent gut barrier damage and commensal bacterial influx following eradication of Giardia infection in mice
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.