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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2010;31:000?000
? 2010 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved.
0899-823X/2010/3110-00XX$15.00
DOI: 10.1086/656241
Original Article
Epidemiology of H1N1 (2009) Influenza among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Center in Saudi Arabia: A 6‐Month Surveillance Study
Hanan H. Balkhy, MD;
Aiman El‐Saed, MD, PhD;
Mahmoud Sallah, MD
From King Abdulaziz Medical City (H.H.B., A.E., M.S.), King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (H.H.B., A.E.), and Gulf Cooperation Council States and World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Infection Prevention and Control (H.H.B., A.E.), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Background.Certain emerging infections, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome and avian influenza, represent a great risk to healthcare workers (HCWs). There are few data about the epidemiology of H1N1 influenza among HCWs.
Methods.We conducted a prospective surveillance study for all HCWs at King Abdulaziz Medical City (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) who were confirmed positive for H1N1 influenza by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from June 1 through November 30, 2009.
Results.During 6 months of surveillance, 526 HCWs were confirmed positive for H1N1 influenza. The distribution of these cases showed 2 clear outbreaks: an initial outbreak (peak at early August) and a shorter second wave (peak at end of October). Among all PCR‐confirmed cases, the attack rate was significantly higher in clinical HCWs than in nonclinical HCWs (6.0% vs 4.3%; ) and in HCWs in emergency departments than in HCWs in other hospital locations (17.4% vs 5.0%, ). The percentage of HCWs who received regular influenza vaccination was greater for clinical HCWs than for nonclinical HCWs (46.2% vs 24.6%; ). The majority of HCWs with confirmed H1N1 influenza were young (mean age ? standard deviation, 34.5 ? 9.5 years), not Saudi (58.4%), female (55.1%), and nurses (36.1%). Approximately 4% of women who were less than 50 years old were pregnant. Reported exposures included contact with a case (41.0%), contact with a sick household member (23.8%), and recent travel history (13.3%). Respiratory symptoms (98.0%), including cough (90.1%), were the most frequently reported symptoms, followed by muscle aches (66.2%), fever (62.5%), headache (57.9%), diarrhea (16.5%), and vomiting (9.8%). None of these HCWs died, and all recovered fully without hospital admission.
Conclusions.The results confirm the vulnerability of HCWs, whether clinical or nonclinical, to emerging H1N1 influenza.
? 2010 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved.
0899-823X/2010/3110-00XX$15.00
DOI: 10.1086/656241
Original Article
Epidemiology of H1N1 (2009) Influenza among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Center in Saudi Arabia: A 6‐Month Surveillance Study
Hanan H. Balkhy, MD;
Aiman El‐Saed, MD, PhD;
Mahmoud Sallah, MD
From King Abdulaziz Medical City (H.H.B., A.E., M.S.), King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (H.H.B., A.E.), and Gulf Cooperation Council States and World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Infection Prevention and Control (H.H.B., A.E.), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Background.Certain emerging infections, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome and avian influenza, represent a great risk to healthcare workers (HCWs). There are few data about the epidemiology of H1N1 influenza among HCWs.
Methods.We conducted a prospective surveillance study for all HCWs at King Abdulaziz Medical City (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) who were confirmed positive for H1N1 influenza by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from June 1 through November 30, 2009.
Results.During 6 months of surveillance, 526 HCWs were confirmed positive for H1N1 influenza. The distribution of these cases showed 2 clear outbreaks: an initial outbreak (peak at early August) and a shorter second wave (peak at end of October). Among all PCR‐confirmed cases, the attack rate was significantly higher in clinical HCWs than in nonclinical HCWs (6.0% vs 4.3%; ) and in HCWs in emergency departments than in HCWs in other hospital locations (17.4% vs 5.0%, ). The percentage of HCWs who received regular influenza vaccination was greater for clinical HCWs than for nonclinical HCWs (46.2% vs 24.6%; ). The majority of HCWs with confirmed H1N1 influenza were young (mean age ? standard deviation, 34.5 ? 9.5 years), not Saudi (58.4%), female (55.1%), and nurses (36.1%). Approximately 4% of women who were less than 50 years old were pregnant. Reported exposures included contact with a case (41.0%), contact with a sick household member (23.8%), and recent travel history (13.3%). Respiratory symptoms (98.0%), including cough (90.1%), were the most frequently reported symptoms, followed by muscle aches (66.2%), fever (62.5%), headache (57.9%), diarrhea (16.5%), and vomiting (9.8%). None of these HCWs died, and all recovered fully without hospital admission.
Conclusions.The results confirm the vulnerability of HCWs, whether clinical or nonclinical, to emerging H1N1 influenza.
