title: Impact of the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic on Canadian health care workers: a survey on vaccination, illness, absenteeism, and personal protective equipment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Data are limited on the impact of the 2009 H1N1 influenza A pandemic on health care worker (HCW) vaccination, illness, absenteeism, and personal protective equipment (PPE) use.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was completed by HCWs from 14 hospitals participating in the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program who provided direct care to patients with pH1N1 influenza in high-risk units between September and December 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surveys were returned from 986 HCWs (80% nurses, 14% respiratory therapists, and 6% physicians). HCWs working in an intensive care unit (78%) or a designated influenza ward (67%) were more compliant with wearing an N95 respirator for aerosol-generating medical procedures than those working in an emergency department (47%; P < .001). HCWs who worked in health care for >11 years were more compliant with wearing protective eyewear than those who worked for ≤11 years (69% vs 54%; P < .001). A total of 815 HCWs (83%) reported having received the pH1N1 influenza vaccine, and 372 (38%) reported having received the 2009-2010 seasonal influenza vaccine. Influenza-like illness was reported by 236 (24%) HCWs, 170 of whom (72%) reported missing work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Experience working in health care improves PPE use and HCWs in emergency departments should be targeted for interventions to improve PPE compliance. pH1N1 influenza vaccine coverage was high, but seasonal influenza vaccine coverage was low, and significant HCW illness and absenteeism were reported.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada. robyn.mitchell@phac-aspc.gc.ca
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Toju
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogunremi
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Astrakianakis
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bryce
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gervais
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gravel
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leduc
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vearncombe
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weir
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006268:Health Facilities; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058873:Pandemics; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines