title: Critical illness from 2009 pandemic influenza A virus and bacterial coinfection in the United States.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The contribution of bacterial coinfection to critical illness associated with 2009 influenza A virus infection remains uncertain. The objective of this study was to determine whether bacterial coinfection increased the morbidity and mortality of 2009 influenza A.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective and prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five adult U.S. intensive care units over the course of 1 yr.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six hundred eighty-three critically ill adults with confirmed or probable 2009 influenza A.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A confirmed or probable case was defined as a positive 2009 influenza A test result or positive test for influenza A that was otherwise not subtyped. Bacterial coinfection was defined as documented bacteremia or any presumed bacterial pneumonia with or without positive respiratory tract culture within 72 hrs of intensive care unit admission. The mean age was 45±16 yrs, mean body mass index was 32.5±11.1 kg/m, and mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Examination II score was 21±9, with 76% having at least one comorbidity. Of 207 (30.3%) patients with bacterial coinfection on intensive care unit admission, 154 had positive cultures with Staphylococcus aureus (n=57) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (n=19), the most commonly identified pathogens. Bacterial coinfected patients were more likely to present with shock (21% vs. 10%; p=.0001), require mechanical ventilation at the time of intensive care unit admission (63% vs. 52%; p=.005), and have longer duration of intensive care unit care (median, 7 vs. 6 days; p=.05). Hospital mortality was 23%; 31% in bacterial coinfected patients and 21% in patients without coinfection (p=.002). Immunosuppression (relative risk 1.57; 95% confidence interval 1.20 -2.06; p=.0009) and Staphylococcus aureus at admission (relative risk 2.82; 95% confidence interval 1.76-4.51; p<.0001) were independently associated with increased mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among intensive care unit patients with 2009 influenza A, bacterial coinfection diagnosed within 72 hrs of admission, especially with Staphylococcus aureus, was associated with significantly higher morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA. todd.rice@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Todd W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: Lewis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rubinson
authors.forename: Timothy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Uyeki
authors.forename: Frances L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Vaughn
authors.forename: Benjamin B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: Russell R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Higgs
authors.forename: Adrienne G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Randolph
authors.forename: B Elizabeth
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Smoot
authors.forename: B Taylor
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058873:Pandemics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult