The use of eye-nose goggles to control nosocomial respiratory syncytial virus infection

Abstract

We evaluated an eye-nose goggle to determine its usefulness in reducing nosocomial RSV infection in patients and staff members on our infant ward. During a community outbreak of RSV in 1984, infection was assessed by biweekly routine viral cultures on all ward personnel and patients and also by seroconversion in personnel. For three weeks staff members wore the goggles; two (5%) adults and one (6%) child acquired nosocomial infection. During the subsequent three-week study period, goggles were not used and 34% of personnel and 43% of susceptible infants became infected. The use of the disposable eye-nose goggles was associated with a significant decrease in nosocomial RSV infections (P less than .003 for staff and P less than .05 for contact infants).