Acute respiratory tract infection in daycare centers for older persons.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the rate of specific pathogens and clinical syndromes associated with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) in frail older persons attending daycare.


METHODS
Prospective descriptive study, without intervention.


METHODS
Two sites of a senior daycare program providing all-inclusive care for the older persons in Rochester, New York.


METHODS
Staff members and participants of the day-care.


METHODS
Demographic, medical, and physical findings were collected from older subjects at baseline and while ill with respiratory illnesses. Nasopharyngeal specimens for viral and Chlamydia culture and sputum for bacterial culture were obtained from subjects when ill. Acute and convalescent sera were also collected with each illness and examined for viral, chlamydial, and mycoplasma infection.


RESULTS
One hundred sixty-five illnesses were documented in 165 older daycare participants as well as 113 illnesses among 67 staff members during the 15-month study. The rate of ARTI in the elderly group was 10.8 per 100 person months. The most common etiologies in both the staff and elderly participants were respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Influenza A, and coronavirus. The etiologies of illnesses in the staff compared with those in elderly group were similar except that bacterial infections were significantly more common among the elderly (7% vs. 0, P = 0.05). Multiple pathogens were found to cocirculate within centers, and no clear outbreak of a predominant organism was noted. Cough and nasal congestion characterized most illnesses. The elderly experienced significantly more cough, dyspnea, and sputum production than did the staff. There were 10 hospitalizations related to respiratory infections and four deaths during the acute illness among the elderly group and none in staff.
Falsey
A R
AR
Department of Medicine, Rochester General Hospital, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY 14621.
McCann
R M
RM
Hall
W J
WJ
Tanner
M A
MA
Criddle
M M
MM
Formica
M A
MA
Irvine
C S
CS
Kolassa
J E
JE
Barker
W H
WH
Treanor
J J
JJ
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003631:Day Care, Medical; D004770:Enterovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D012229:Rhinovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012621:Seasons