Healthcare personnel infected with novel influenza A H1N1 virus in university hospitals in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Data on the clinical presentation, risk factors, and outcomes for healthcare personnel (HCP) infected with influenza A H1N1 virus (H1N1) are limited. From June to July 2009, a prospective study was conducted among HCP with influenza-like illness (ILI) at university hospitals in Buenos Aires. A reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to diagnose H1N1. A logistic regression model was developed to identify factors associated with H1N1. Among 1519 HCP, 96 (6.3%) were diagnosed with an ILI. Of these, 85 (88.5%) were swabbed for H1N1 detection, with 43 positive cases (2.8%). Seasonal influenza immunization was recorded in 76%. Comparison of H1N1-positive vs. H1N1-negative cases showed that H1N1-positive cases more frequently had asthenia (72% vs. 48%, p = 0.03) and cough (79% vs. 43%, p = 0.008) and less frequently had diarrhoea (9% vs. 29%, p = 0.03) and prior prophylaxis with oseltamivir (5% vs. 31%, p = 0.002). The logistic regression model showed that presence of cough (odds ratio (OR) 6.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.24, 21.4) was associated with an increased risk of H1N1. Prior prophylaxis with oseltamivir (OR 0.08, 95% CI 0.01, 0.43) was associated with a lower probability of H1N1 infection. A high proportion of HCP with an ILI were infected with H1N1. Complication rates were relatively low. Prior prophylaxis with oseltamivir was associated with a lower risk of developing H1N1.
Querci
Marcia
M
Division of Infectious Diseases, Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas Norberto Quirno (CEMIC), Buenos Aires, Argentina. infectologia@cemic.edu.ar
Stryjewski
Martin E
ME
Herrera
Fabián
F
Temporiti
Elena
E
Alcalá
Wanda
W
Chavez
Natalia
N
Figueras
Laura
L
Barberis
Fernanda
F
Echavarría
Marcela
M
Videla
Cristina
C
Martínez
Alfredo
A
Carballal
Guadalupe
G
Bonvehí
Pablo
P
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D053139:Oseltamivir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014773:Virology / Q000379:methods
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D053139:Oseltamivir