Patterns of influenza infections among different risk groups in Brazil

Influenza virus infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Influenza activity varies worldwide, and regional detection is influenced by geographic conditions, demographic and patient-risk factors. We assessed influenza activity and patterns of seasonality during three consecutive y...

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Main Authors: Nancy Bellei, Emerson Carraro, Ana Perosa, Celso Granato
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier
Series:Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1413-86702007000400005&lng=en&tlng=en
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author Nancy Bellei
Emerson Carraro
Ana Perosa
Celso Granato
author_facet Nancy Bellei
Emerson Carraro
Ana Perosa
Celso Granato
author_sort Nancy Bellei
collection DOAJ
description Influenza virus infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Influenza activity varies worldwide, and regional detection is influenced by geographic conditions, demographic and patient-risk factors. We assessed influenza activity and patterns of seasonality during three consecutive years (2001-2003) in three risk groups in São Paulo city. Four-hundred-twelve outpatients with acute respiratory infection were subjected to epidemiological, clinical and laboratory investigations; these included community population (N=140), health-care workers (N=203), and renal-transplanted patients (N=69). Nasal wash samples were tested by direct fluorescent assay for influenza, parainfluenza, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus. Overall Influenza positivity was 21%, and a progressive decline was observed in all groups over time. Influenza A and B co-circulated at the same time in 2001 and 2002, but not in 2003. Low influenza-vaccination rates (19%) were reported by health-care workers. Unexpected low levels of etiological agents were detected in renal-transplanted patients, and infected cases were less symptomatic than immunocompetent patients. Based on this study, we conclude that health-care worker-immunization programs should be implemented and the clinical patterns of infected influenza patients should be used as a guide for better case-definition criteria for adequate influenza surveillance, particularly for renal-transplant patients.
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spelling doaj.art-8ce32d4bc3c14d2cbaccf00e0bbb328b2022-12-21T18:47:29ZengElsevierBrazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases1678-439111439940210.1590/S1413-86702007000400005S1413-86702007000400005Patterns of influenza infections among different risk groups in BrazilNancy Bellei0Emerson Carraro1Ana Perosa2Celso Granato3Universidade Federal de São PauloUniversidade Federal de São PauloUniversidade Federal de São PauloUniversidade Federal de São PauloInfluenza virus infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Influenza activity varies worldwide, and regional detection is influenced by geographic conditions, demographic and patient-risk factors. We assessed influenza activity and patterns of seasonality during three consecutive years (2001-2003) in three risk groups in São Paulo city. Four-hundred-twelve outpatients with acute respiratory infection were subjected to epidemiological, clinical and laboratory investigations; these included community population (N=140), health-care workers (N=203), and renal-transplanted patients (N=69). Nasal wash samples were tested by direct fluorescent assay for influenza, parainfluenza, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus. Overall Influenza positivity was 21%, and a progressive decline was observed in all groups over time. Influenza A and B co-circulated at the same time in 2001 and 2002, but not in 2003. Low influenza-vaccination rates (19%) were reported by health-care workers. Unexpected low levels of etiological agents were detected in renal-transplanted patients, and infected cases were less symptomatic than immunocompetent patients. Based on this study, we conclude that health-care worker-immunization programs should be implemented and the clinical patterns of infected influenza patients should be used as a guide for better case-definition criteria for adequate influenza surveillance, particularly for renal-transplant patients.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1413-86702007000400005&lng=en&tlng=enInfluenzarisk groupsrespiratory viral infection
spellingShingle Nancy Bellei
Emerson Carraro
Ana Perosa
Celso Granato
Patterns of influenza infections among different risk groups in Brazil
Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases
Influenza
risk groups
respiratory viral infection
title Patterns of influenza infections among different risk groups in Brazil
title_full Patterns of influenza infections among different risk groups in Brazil
title_fullStr Patterns of influenza infections among different risk groups in Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Patterns of influenza infections among different risk groups in Brazil
title_short Patterns of influenza infections among different risk groups in Brazil
title_sort patterns of influenza infections among different risk groups in brazil
topic Influenza
risk groups
respiratory viral infection
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1413-86702007000400005&lng=en&tlng=en
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