Mortality following isolation of various respiratory viruses in nursing home residents.
OBJECTIVE
To compare mortality following isolation of influenza A to mortality following isolation of other respiratory viruses in a nursing home.


METHODS
The Wisconsin Veterans Home, a 688-bed skilled nursing facility for veterans and their spouses.


METHODS
All residents with respiratory viral isolates obtained between 1988 and 1999.


METHODS
Thirty-day mortality was determined following each culture-proven illness.


RESULTS
Thirty-day mortality following isolation of viral respiratory pathogens was 4.7% (15/322) for influenza A; 5.4% (7/129) for influenza B; 6.1% (3/49) for parainfluenza type 1; 0% (0/26) for parainfluenza types 2, 3, and 4; 0% (0/26) for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV); and 1.6% (1/61) for rhinovirus.


CONCLUSIONS
Mortality following isolation of certain other respiratory viruses may be comparable to that following influenza A (although influenza A mortality might be higher without vaccination and antiviral agents). The use of uniform secretion precautions for all viral respiratory illness deserves consideration in nursing homes.
Drinka
P J
PJ
Wisconsin Veterans Home, King 54946-0620, USA.
Gravenstein
S
S
Langer
E
E
Krause
P
P
Shult
P
P
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology