title: An outbreak of human metapneumovirus in a rehabilitation center for alcoholics in Tampere, Finland.
abstract: Reports of respiratory tract infections in a rehabilitation center for alcoholics triggered the epidemiological investigations in Tampere, Finland. Twenty-nine out of 40 residents (attack rate 73%) and four members of staff fulfilled the case criteria: cough; worsening of dyspnea; or rhinitis with or without fever. Ten cases were hospitalized, one needed treatment in the intensive care unit. All cases recovered. Serum hMPV antibody titer was high (10 240 or more) in 20 (69%) of the 29 tested cases and the difference was significant when compared with the titer measured from the voluntary laboratory personnel (n = 14, p < 0.001). The titers were rising in three out of the five cases from whom coupled samples could be obtained. Rt-PCR for hMPV was positive in three out of the eight tested cases. No other causative agent for the outbreak was detected. The outcome of hMPV infection among institutionalized smoking alcoholics was good with no mortality.
authors.affiliation: From the 1 Department of Internal Medicine, Tampere University Hospital , Tampere.
authors.forename: Outi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Laine
authors.forename: Janne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laine
authors.forename: Petrus
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Säilä
authors.forename: Heini
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huhtala
authors.forename: Jaana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Syrjänen
authors.forename: Tytti
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vuorinen
authors.forename: Risto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vuento
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Alcoholic; healthcare-associated infections; human metapneumovirus; outbreak; smoking