Interference of Vaccine Derived Polio Viruses with Diagnosis of Enteroviral Diseases in Neonatal Period

Introduction: Enteroviruses (EV) are a common cause of neonatal sepsis especially at the junction of summer and fall.

Aim: This study was planned to find the frequency of Enteroviral (EV) sepsis among neonates with clinical sepsis.

Materials and methods: This is a prospective descriptive study. Rectal and pharyngeal swab samples were taken from all neonates with clinical sepsis and a control group of neonates with simple jaundice. EV was confirmed by both cell culture and RT-PCR. Anti polio antiserum was used to differentiate Polioviruses from Non Polio EVs (NPEV).

Results: We had 67 neonates with clinical sepsis and 31 cases of simple jaundice during 105 days. NPEVs were isolated from 2 cases (2.9%) of the sepsis arm and one neonate (3.2%) of the jaundice group. Polio virus was isolated from 16.2% and 15.3% of OPV recipients in the sepsis and jaundice group respectively.

Conclusion: Enteroviruses were not a common cause for neonatal sepsis in Nemazi hospital at the time of this study. OPV vaccinated neonates commonly pass the vaccine virus in their pharynx and stool which can be mistaken with NPEV.