scholarly journals Laboratory diagnosis of influenza and the impact of the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Jen Kok ◽  
David W Smith ◽  
Dominic E Dwyer
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Nucleic Acid Amplification ◽  
Pandemic H1n1 ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Retrospective Diagnosis ◽  
Vaccination Programs ◽  
Preparedness Planning ◽  
Pandemic H1n1 2009 ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
The Impact

Aetiological confirmation of respiratory tract infections in patients facilitates appropriate antimicrobial use and infection control procedures. From a public health perspective, the laboratory confirmation of influenza allows assessment of circulating viruses, community attack rates and the efficacy of vaccination programs, while assisting modelling as part of pandemic preparedness planning. Rapid antigen and immunofluorescent antigen tests are relatively insensitive in detecting pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza compared to seasonal subtypes, and influenza subtype-specific nucleic acid amplification tests should be used as the ?gold-standard? for diagnosis. Pathogen-specific serological testing aids the retrospective diagnosis of infection, and is used in seroprevalence studies. Influenza virus isolation is needed for vaccine assessment and formulation. Although some challenges surrounding diagnostic testing during pandemic (H1N1) 2009 have been resolved, others remain; this may test laboratories again in future pandemics.

scholarly journals Diagnosis of influenza following the first wave of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 122
Author(s):  
Jen Kok ◽  
Dominic E Dwyer
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Nucleic Acid Amplification ◽  
Pandemic H1n1 ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Retrospective Diagnosis ◽  
Vaccination Programs ◽  
Preparedness Planning ◽  
Pandemic H1n1 2009 ◽  
Antigen Tests ◽  
Tract Infections

Aetiological confirmation of respiratory tract infections in individual patients facilitates appropriate antimicrobial use and infection control procedures. From a public health perspective, influenza confirmation allows assessment of community attack rates and the efficacy of vaccination programs, while assisting in modelling for pandemic preparedness planning. Rapid antigen and immunofluorescent antigen tests are relatively insensitive in detecting pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza, and influenza subtype-specific nucleic acid amplification tests should be used as the ?gold standard? for diagnosis. Pathogen-specific serological testing aids the retrospective diagnosis of infection. Although some challenges surrounding diagnostic testing during the first pandemic wave have been resolved, others remain; this may test laboratories again in the second and subsequent pandemic waves.

scholarly journals Trends in admissions for acute respiratory infections in children: an inter-country comparison between Western Australia and England

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Moore ◽  
Tasmin Abdalla ◽  
Christopher Blyth ◽  
Ruth Gilbert ◽  
Pia Hardelid
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Primary Diagnosis ◽  
Respiratory Pathogens ◽  
Vaccination Programs ◽  
Admission Rates ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTObjectiveAcute respiratory infections (ARI) including bronchiolitis, pneumonia and influenza are a major cause of hospital admissions in children worldwide. Linkage of administrative health datasets provides a platform to investigate temporal and seasonal trends in large populations over many years. We examined the similarities and differences in ARI admissions using linked datasets in Western Australia and England. ApproachThrough the availability of common data items in each jurisdiction, identical coding and data cleaning principles were applied to both datasets. Hospital admissions for ARI in children aged <5 years between 2000 and 2012 were identified using International Classification of Diseases diagnosis codes. Admission rates per 1000 child-years by age, gender and admission year were calculated in each jurisdiction. A total population birth cohort was available in Western Australia and the denominator was person time at risk whereas for England, all hospitalisations were used with the mid-year population as the denominator. ResultsThe overall incidence of ARI was 18.3/1000 child-years in Western Australia and 14.4/1000 in England. In both countries, the highest incidence of ARI was observed in infants (47.9/1000 child-years in Western Australia and 42.1/1000 child-years in England). Bronchiolitis was the most common primary diagnosis in infants in both countries, accounting for 79.7% of ARI admissions in Western Australia and 78.3% in England. The most common primary diagnosis in 1-4 year olds was unspecified lower respiratory tract infections in England (48.8% of ARI admissions in this age group) and pneumonia in Western Australia (43.9% of ARI admissions in 1-4-year-olds). The annual incidence rate for ARI hospitalisations declined in Western Australia from 2000 to 2006 and since remained steady. ARI admission rates increased in England throughout the study period. Admission rates across all age groups were 1.1-1.5 times higher in boys than girls in both countries. ConclusionThe availability of similar datasets in two economically similar countries in different hemispheres has afforded the opportunity to characterise and compare the epidemiology of paediatric respiratory infections over a 13 year period. Future analyses will allow us to assess differences in coding practices, seasonality and risk factors such as socio-economic deprivation and prematurity. Furthermore the availability of linked laboratory data for respiratory pathogens in each jurisdiction will allow for comparisons of pathogen-specific epidemiology and the impact of universal vaccination programs.

scholarly journals The Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Influenza outbreak in Australia: The impact on Emergency Departments

2010 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 138-139
Author(s):  
Gerard Joseph ◽  
Ramon Shaban ◽  
Paul Arbon ◽  
Peter Aitken ◽  
Julie Considine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Departments ◽  
Pandemic H1n1 ◽  
Influenza Outbreak ◽  
Pandemic H1n1 2009 ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals What serosurveillance studies tell us about the 2009 influenza pandemic

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Gary K Dowse ◽  
Ian Barr
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Pandemic ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Antigenic Drift ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Pandemic H1n1 ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Vaccination Programs ◽  
Pandemic Virus ◽  
The Impact

Surveillance of the impact of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza during its initial seasons in both hemispheres relied on routinely available indicators, including numbers and rates of laboratory-detected cases, hospitalisations, ICU admissions and deaths, along with monitoring of influenza-like illness (ILI) from primary care sentinel surveillance systems. Estimates of the clinical attack rate and the case fatality ratio were imperfect. Understanding of the pathogenicity of the pandemic virus and prediction of the impact in subsequent seasons was hindered by a lack of information on actual infection rates in the population. Results of a number of serosurveys conducted in Australia and overseas countries have now become available, revealing that the arrival of the pandemic virus in modern urbanised and non-immune populations resulted in relatively similar infection rates in both the southern and northern hemispheres. Around 30?50% of children and teenagers were infected during the first pandemic season, with lower rates, around 10?20%, in young and middle-aged adults, and very few infections in older adults. There were significant numbers of mild or asymptomatic infections, and case fatality and hospitalisation ratios were much lower than those contemplated in pandemic plans. Many populations, including Australia, achieved a significant level of herd immunity during the first wave, and community susceptibility was further reduced by vaccination programs, although coverage was lower than expected. In the absence of significant antigenic drift or changes in virulence, the impact of the pandemic H1N1 virus should continue to decline in future influenza seasons.

scholarly journals Performance of Saliva, Oropharyngeal Swabs, and Nasal Swabs for SARS-CoV-2 Molecular Detection: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rose A. Lee ◽  
Joshua C. Herigon ◽  
Andrea Benedetti ◽  
Nira R. Pollock ◽  
Claudia M. Denkinger
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Rna Extraction ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Nucleic Acid Amplification ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Specimen Collection ◽  
Nasal Swabs ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Alternative Specimen

ABSTRACTBackgroundNasopharyngeal (NP) swabs are considered the highest-yield sample for diagnostic testing for respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. The need to increase capacity for SARS-CoV-2 testing in a variety of settings, combined with shortages of sample collection supplies, have motivated a search for alternative sample types with high sensitivity. We systematically reviewed the literature to understand the performance of alternative sample types compared to NP swabs.MethodsWe systematically searched PubMed, Google Scholar, medRxiv, and bioRxiv (last retrieval October 1st, 2020) for comparative studies of alternative specimen types [saliva, oropharyngeal (OP), and nasal (NS) swabs] versus NP swabs for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis using nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT). A logistic-normal random-effects meta-analysis was performed to calculate % positive alternative-specimen, % positive NP, and % dual positives overall and in sub-groups. The QUADAS 2 tool was used to assess bias.ResultsFrom 1,253 unique citations, we identified 25 saliva, 11 NS, 6 OP, and 4 OP/NS studies meeting inclusion criteria. Three specimen types captured lower % positives [NS (0.82, 95% CI: 0.73-0.90), OP (0.84, 95% CI: 0.57-1.0), saliva (0.88, 95% CI: 0.81 – 0.93)] than NP swabs, while combined OP/NS matched NP performance (0.97, 95% CI: 0.90-1.0). Absence of RNA extraction (saliva) and utilization of a more sensitive NAAT (NS) substantially decreased alternative-specimen yield.ConclusionsNP swabs remain the gold standard for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, although alternative specimens are promising. Much remains unknown about the impact of variations in specimen collection, processing protocols, and population (pediatric vs. adult, late vs. early in disease course) and head-to head studies of sampling strategies are urgently needed.

Facial Protective Equipment, Personnel, and Pandemics: Impact of the Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Virus on Personnel and Use of Facial Protective Equipment

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (10) ◽  
pp. 1011-1016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Murray ◽  
Jennifer Grant ◽  
Elizabeth Bryce ◽  
Paul Chilton ◽  
Leslie Forrester
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Season ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Pandemic H1n1 ◽  
Influenza Like Illness ◽  
Employee Absenteeism ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Pandemic H1n1 2009 ◽  
The Impact

Background.Before the emergence of the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus, estimates of the stockpiles of facial protective equipment (FPE) and the impact that information had on personnel during a pandemic varied.Objective.To describe the impact of H1N1 on FPE use and hospital employee absenteeism.Setting.One tertiary care hospital and 2 community hospitals in the Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) region, Vancouver, Canada.Patients.All persons with influenza-like illness admitted to the 3 VCH facilities during the period from June 28 through December 19, 2009.Methods.Data on patients and on FPE use were recorded prospectively. Data on salaried employee absenteeism were recorded during the period from August 1 through December 19, 2009.Results.During the study period, 865 patients with influenza-like illness were admitted to the 3 VCH facilities. Of these patients, 149 (17.2%) had laboratory-confirmed H1N1 influenza infection. The mean duration of hospital stay for these patients was 8.9 days, and the mean duration of intensive care unit stay was 9.2 days. A total of 134,281 masks and 173,145 N95 respirators (hereafter referred to as respirators) were used during the 24-week epidemic, double the weekly use of both items, compared with the previous influenza season. A ratio of 3 masks to 4 respirators was observed. Use of disposable eyewear doubled. Absenteeism mirrored the community epidemiologic curve, with a 260% increase in sick calls at the epidemic peak, compared with the nadir.Conclusion.Overall, FPE use more than doubled, compared with the previous influenza season, with respirator use exceeding literature estimates. A significant proportion of FPE resources were used while managing suspected cases. Planners should prepare for at least a doubling in mask and respirator use, and a 3.6-fold increase in staff sick calls.

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Influenza in Hospitalized Children in Manitoba: Nosocomial Transmission and Lessons Learned from the First Wave

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 435-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio T. Fanella ◽  
Michelle A. Pinto ◽  
Natalie A. Bridger ◽  
Jared M. P. Bullard ◽  
Jennifer M. L. Coombs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Nosocomial Transmission ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Pandemic H1n1 ◽  
Pandemic H1n1 2009 ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

Objective.To review the experiences at Winnipeg Children's Hospital (WCH) during the 2009 influenza season, with an emphasis on nosocomial transmission and infection prevention and control responses.Design.A case series of patients admitted to WCH who had laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza between January 1 and July 31, 2009, with a comparison of patients with seasonal influenza and those with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza; a review of the impact of infection prevention and control modifications on nosocomial transmission.Patients and Setting.A total of 104 inpatients with influenza, 81 of whom had pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza, were reviewed at a large Canadian pediatric tertiary care center.Results.There were no differences in risk factors, presentation, or outcome between patients with seasonal influenza and those with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza. There were 8 nosocomial cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza. Excluding patients with nosocomial cases, mean length of hospital stay was significantly shortened to 3.7 days for individuals who had pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza and who received empiric oseltamivir on admission to the hospital, compared with 12.0 days for patients for whom treatment was delayed (P = .02). Treatment with oseltamivir of all patients with suspected cases of influenza and prompt modifications to infection control practices, including playroom closures and enhanced education of visitors and staff, terminated nosocomial transmission.Conclusions.Infection with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus resulted in a substantial number of hospitalizations of pediatric patients in Manitoba, including those with nosocomial cases, thereby stressing the capacity of WCH. Immediate therapy with oseltamivir on admission to the hospital resulted in a significantly reduced length of hospitalization. This, coupled with intensified infection prevention and control practices, halted nosocomial transmission. These strategies should be considered in future pandemic influenza or other respiratory viral outbreaks.

scholarly journals Performance of Saliva, Oropharyngeal Swabs, and Nasal Swabs for SARS-CoV-2 Molecular Detection: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rose A. Lee ◽  
Joshua C. Herigon ◽  
Andrea Benedetti ◽  
Nira R. Pollock ◽  
Claudia M. Denkinger
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Rna Extraction ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Nucleic Acid Amplification ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Specimen Collection ◽  
Nasal Swabs ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Alternative Specimen

Background: Nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs are considered the highest-yield sample for diagnostic testing for respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. The need to increase capacity for SARS-CoV-2 testing in a variety of settings, combined with shortages of sample collection supplies, have motivated a search for alternative sample types with high sensitivity. We systematically reviewed the literature to understand the performance of alternative sample types compared to NP swabs. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Google Scholar, medRxiv, and bioRxiv (last retrieval October 1st, 2020) for comparative studies of alternative specimen types [saliva, oropharyngeal (OP), and nasal (NS) swabs] versus NP swabs for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis using nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT). A logistic-normal random-effects meta-analysis was performed to calculate % positive alternative-specimen, % positive NP, and % dual positives overall and in sub-groups. The QUADAS 2 tool was used to assess bias. Results: From 1,253 unique citations, we identified 25 saliva, 11 NS, 6 OP, and 4 OP/NS studies meeting inclusion criteria. Three specimen types captured lower % positives [NS (82%, 95% CI: 73-90%), OP (84%, 95% CI: 57-100%), saliva (88%, 95% CI: 81 – 93%)] than NP swabs, while combined OP/NS matched NP performance (97%, 95% CI: 90-100%). Absence of RNA extraction (saliva) and utilization of a more sensitive NAAT (NS) substantially decreased alternative-specimen yield. Conclusions: NP swabs remain the gold standard for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, although alternative specimens are promising. Much remains unknown about the impact of variations in specimen collection, processing protocols, and population (pediatric vs. adult, late vs. early in disease course) and head-to head studies of sampling strategies are urgently needed.

An influence of social isolation on the level of physical activity as well as on well-being and mental state of people during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic

2019 ◽  
Vol 129 (4) ◽  
pp. 127-131
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Parfin ◽  
Krystian Wdowiak ◽  
Marzena Furtak-Niczyporuk ◽  
Jolanta Herda
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Population Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIntroduction. The COVID-19 is the name of an infectious disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2). It was first diagnosed in December 2019 in patients in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The symptoms are dominated by features of respiratory tract infections, in some patients with a very severe course leading to respiratory failure and, in extreme cases to death. Due to the spread of the infection worldwide, the WHO declared a pandemic in March 2020.Aim. An investigation of the impact of social isolation introduced due to the coronavirus pandemic on selected aspects of life. The researchers focused on observing changes in habits related to physical activity and their connections with people’s subjective well-being and emotional state.Material and methods. The study was carried out within the international project of the group „IRG on COVID and exercise”. The research tool was a standardized questionnaire.Results. Based on the data collected and the analysis of the percentage results, it can be observed that the overwhelming majority of people taking up physical activity reported a better mood during the pandemic. However, statistical tests do not confirm these relationships due to the small sample size.Conclusions. Isolation favours physical activity. Future, in-depth studies, by enlarging the population group, are necessary to confirm the above observations.

Burden of Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) in Bangladesh: Systematic Review of Existing Literature and Transmission Modelling of Seroprevalence Studies

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 284-290
Author(s):  
Jocelyn Chan ◽  
Yue Wu ◽  
James Wood ◽  
Mohammad Muhit ◽  
Mohammed K. Mahmood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Deterministic Model ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Controlled Vocabulary ◽  
Congenital Rubella Syndrome ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Childbearing Age ◽  
Vaccination Programs ◽  
Congenital Rubella ◽  
The Impact

Background and Objectives: Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable congenital anomalies. Comprehensive country-level data on the burden of CRS in low and middle-income countries, such as Bangladesh, are scarce. This information is essential for assessing the impact of rubella vaccination programs. We aim to systematically review the literature on the epidemiology of CRS and estimate the burden of CRS in Bangladesh. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of existing literature and transmission modelling of seroprevalence studies to estimate the pre-vaccine period burden of CRS in Bangladesh. OVID Medline (1948 – 23 November 2016) and OVID EMBASE (1974 – 23 November 2016) were searched using a combination of the database-specific controlled vocabulary and free text terms. We used an age-stratified deterministic model to estimate the pre-vaccination burden of CRS in Bangladesh. Findings: Ten articles were identified, published between 2000 and 2014, including seven crosssectional studies, two case series and one analytical case-control study. Rubella seropositivity ranged from 47.0% to 86.0% among all age population. Rubella sero–positivity increased with age. Rubella seropositivity among women of childbearing age was 81.0% overall. The estimated incidence of CRS was 0·99 per 1,000 live births, which corresponds to approximately 3,292 CRS cases annually in Bangladesh. Conclusion: The estimated burden of CRS in Bangladesh during the pre-vaccination period was high. This will provide important baseline information to assess the impact and cost-effectiveness of routine rubella immunisation, introduced in 2012 in Bangladesh.

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