title: Is public transport a risk factor for acute respiratory infection?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relationship between public transport use and acquisition of acute respiratory infection (ARI) is not well understood but potentially important during epidemics and pandemics.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study performed during the 2008/09 influenza season. Cases (n = 72) consulted a General Practitioner with ARI, and controls with another non-respiratory acute condition (n = 66). Data were obtained on bus or tram usage in the five days preceding illness onset (cases) or the five days before consultation (controls) alongside demographic details. Multiple logistic regression modelling was used to investigate the association between bus or tram use and ARI, adjusting for potential confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recent bus or tram use within five days of symptom onset was associated with an almost six-fold increased risk of consulting for ARI (adjusted OR = 5.94 95% CI 1.33-26.5). The risk of ARI appeared to be modified according to the degree of habitual bus and tram use, but this was not statistically significant (1-3 times/week: adjusted OR = 0.54 (95% CI 0.15-1.95; >3 times/week: 0.37 (95% CI 0.13-1.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found a statistically significant association between ARI and bus or tram use in the five days before symptom onset. The risk appeared greatest among occasional bus or tram users, but this trend was not statistically significant. However, these data are plausible in relation to the greater likelihood of developing protective antibodies to common respiratory viruses if repeatedly exposed. The findings have differing implications for the control of seasonal acute respiratory infections and for pandemic influenza.
authors.affiliation: University of Nottingham, City Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Troko
authors.forename: Puja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Myles
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hashim
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Enstone
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kingdon
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Packham
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hayward
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nguyen Van-Tam
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014186:Transportation; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult