Pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza among health care workers

• Published in: American journal of infection control Vol. 41; no. 7; pp. 645 - 647
• Main Authors: Lobo, Renata D., RN, MS, Oliveira, Maura S., MD, MS, Garcia, Cilmara P., MD, Caiaffa Filho, Helio Hehl, MS, Levin, Anna S., MD, PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01-07-2013; Elsevier; Mosby-Year Book, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Avian flu; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil - epidemiology; Case-Control Studies; Cross Infection - epidemiology; Epidemiology. Vaccinations; Female; General aspects; Health Personnel - statistics & numerical data; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infection Control; Infectious Disease; Infectious diseases; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Influenza, Human - epidemiology; Male; Medical personnel; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Pandemics; Pandemics - statistics & numerical data; Respiratory symptons; Risk factor; Risk Factors; RT-PCR; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the respiratory system and ent viral diseases; Young Adult; Brazil; Respiratory symptons; RT-PCR; Risk factor; Respiratory disease; H1N1 influenza; Check; Health care staff; Prevention; Infection; Respiratory tract; Viral disease; Molecular biology; Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction
• ISSN: 0196-6553; 1527-3296
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2012.08.012

To evaluate factors associated with pandemic influenza among health care workers (HCWs), a case-case-control study was conducted with 52 confirmed cases, 120 influenza-negative cases, and 102 controls. Comorbidities (odds ratio [OR], 19.05; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 4.75–76.41), male sex (OR, 5.11; 95% CI: 1.80–14.46), and being a physician (OR, 8.58; 95% CI: 2.52–29.27) were independent risk factors for pandemic influenza infection among HCWs. Contact with symptomatic coworker or social contact was protective (OR, 0.11; 95% CI: 0.04–0.29). To our knowledge, this is the first study of factors associated with acquiring influenza involving HCW in nonsevere cases.