title: Lack of correlation between nutritional status and seroprotection against influenza in a long term care facility.
abstract: We conducted a prospective study in a long-term care facility. Virologic diagnosis was assessed using viral isolation, polymerase chain reaction and serology for all patients with a flu-like syndrome. Albumin, vitamins and trace elements were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The risk of influenza increased 6.5-fold in patients with an antibody titer of 40 during the influenza outbreak (P=0.04). Micronutrients and vitamins deficiencies were important. Patients with antibody titer >1:40 could still be infected by the virus without correlation with the nutritional status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Humoral protection with a titer >1:40 might not be protective in the elderly. Nutritional deficiencies were too prevalent to detect any effect on the results.
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics Department, University Hospital of Poitiers, 86021 Poitiers cedex, France. m.paccalin@chu-poitiers.fr
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paccalin
authors.forename: Chloé
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Plouzeau
authors.forename: Gauthier
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bouche
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Guillard
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beby-Defaux
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mauco
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Agius
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines