title: Influenza and rhinovirus infections among health-care workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Health-care workers (HCWs) are at higher risk of acquisition and transmission of respiratory virus infections. Nosocomial transmission of influenza has been documented but whether this is so for other respiratory viruses has not been assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Epidemiological, clinical and viral laboratory surveillance was carried out on HCWs presenting with acute respiratory infection in a university hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over a 2-year period, 203 subjects were recruited: rhinovirus was the most frequently detected virus (37.7% in flu negative samples) and influenza A/B was positive in only 12.3% of subjects. Only 19.7% of HCWs were immunized against influenza. High detection of rhinovirus occurred even during the peak of the influenza season and half of the infected subjects reported an influenza-like illness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rhinovirus infection occurred frequently in this study population and probably contributes to influenza misdiagnosis. Educational interventions about different viruses causing respiratory symptoms and an increase in standards of infection control besides influenza immunization among HCWs is needed.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Virology Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Unit of Sao Paulo Hospital, Sao Paulo Federal University, Sao Paulo, Brazil. nbellei@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bellei
authors.forename: Emerson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carraro
authors.forename: Ana Helena Sitta
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Perosa
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Benfica
authors.forename: Celso Fransisco Hernandes
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Granato
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003139:Common Cold / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012229:Rhinovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral