A 2017 outbreak of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis at an eye care clinic in Los Angeles was caused by a new human adenovirus type, according to an article on the Healio website.
According to a study by the Acute Communicable Disease Control Program at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, infection prevention practices are urgently needed in the eye care setting.
Although the strain associated with the outbreak, adenovirus type D53, has been found in Japan and Germany, it had not previously been reported in the United States.
“Based on this investigation, it is believed that the virus was introduced to surfaces in the exam room by a symptomatic patient, and that subsequent lapses in infection prevention practices led to transmission to other patients,” the study said