Epidemic Diarrhea of the New-born: A Report of Two Outbreaks

Abstract

An epidemic of diarrhea of the new-born consisting of 22 mild and 28 severe cases, with 3 deaths, occurred in a Rochester, N. Y., hospital in April and May, 1942. The etiological agent was not detd. The feces of the sick infants contained an agent fatal to baby Swiss mice in significantly higher proportion than feces of well infants. In 3 cases the incubation period was as short as 24 hrs. The disease tended to select infants below and above normal birth wt. Two of the 3 deaths occurred in infants with birth injury or congenital abnormality. The incidence was significantly greater and the illness was more severe among infants artificially fed than among the breast-fed. Opportunity for transmission of infection was afforded by contamination of nipples and formula. Delay and inadequacy in recognition and isolation of cases may have been contributory. The epidemic came to a close following correction of these faults. A 2d epidemic of diarrhea of the new-born consisting of 21 mild, non-fatal cases occurred in the same hospital in July, 1942. Illness was limited almost exclusively to breast-fed infants. Opportunity for transmission of infection was afforded by probable contamination of a common vessel of 4% boric acid used to cleanse the breasts. The epidemic came to a close following correction of this fault.