title: Characteristics of hospitalised patients with 2009 H1N1 influenza in Chile.
abstract: As the pandemic of 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus progressed, more patients required hospitalisation. The objective of this study is to describe the characteristics and clinical course of hospitalised patients with 2009 H1N1 virus infection in Chile. This was a prospective, observational study of 100 consecutive hospitalised patients with RT-PCR-confirmed 2009 H1N1 influenza A, admitted to Puerto Montt General Hospital (Puerto Montt, Chile). Information was obtained regarding contact history, demographics, laboratory values and clinical course. The primary reason for hospitalisation was pneumonia, in 75% of patients. Rapid influenza A test was positive in 51% of patients. Prior exposure to 2009 H1N1 virus was documented in 21% of patients. Clinical failure, documented in 18% of cases, was characterised by respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Failure was more common in patients with obesity, tachypnoea, confusion and multilobar infiltrates. When evaluating a patient hospitalised with influenza-like illness, a negative rapid test for influenza A or negative contact with a suspected case should not alter physicians' considerations regarding the likelihood of 2009 H1N1 virus infection. Patients with 2009 H1N1 virus infection with obesity, tachypnoea, confusion and multilobar infiltrates should be closely monitored since they are at high risk for clinical failure.
authors.affiliation: Puerto Montt Hospital, Puerto Montt, Chile.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riquelme
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riquelme
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rioseco
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Inzunza
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Contreras
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Riquelme
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peyrani
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wiemken
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramirez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002677:Chile; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000378:metabolism*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D058873:Pandemics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012306:Risk; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents