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http://www.clarin.com/diario/2010/04/25/sociedad/s-02187393.htm
Scientists have found a co-infection with pneumococcal bacteria in the most severe cases.
By: Valeria Rom?n
A year ago, the influenza A virus H1N1 was first detected in the northern hemisphere.
A month later, Argentina went into panic. There was not even a specific vaccine against the virus nor knew their characteristics. Health centers and hospitals overflowing with patients who wanted the swabs and antiviral. And schools suspended classes and social activities were reduced. The fear was based "largely" in which no one could explain why the country had one of the highest rates of mortality event on the planet. Now, there's an explanation.
Malbr?n Institute researchers, in Buenos Aires, and Columbia University in the U.S., reached a conclusion, published in the journal PLoS One: the severity of cases of influenza A H1N1 virus was due to a co-infection with pneumococcal bacteria, which was not detected in other countries. In 2009 there were 626 deaths from influenza A in Argentina. "In other epidemics, as in 1918, there were similar situations, and we started to analyze patient samples to detect not only the flu virus but 33 other pathogens," he told Clarin, Argentina's Gustavo Palacios, who investigates the Faculty of Medicine of the American university.
The 11 researchers (as Elsa Baumeister, Daniel Cisterna, and Ana Bussetti, among others) did a study of 199 swab samples were taken between June and July 2009. They were concerned that the mortality rate had the flu pandemic in the country for 17 July and 3056 cases were reported and 137 deaths. "The case mortality rate was 4.5% in Argentina, when the world did not exceed 0.8%," said Palacios.
At first, scientists thought of the possibility that the strain of flu virus that circulated in Argentina had suffered some type of mutation. They analyzed the genome, but the hypothesis was rejected. The other possibility was the detection of other germs that may be exacerbating the situation of patients.
After the analysis, found that 55% of the 39 patients with severe influenza, which had required the help of a ventilator or had died, had also suffered infection with pneumococcal bacteria. In the 160 patients studied mild, 20% were also affected by the pneumococcus. "The why of these co-infections in the country remains unclear. Further studies should be made", he said.
Meanwhile, Eduardo Giugno, director of the career of medical specialist in Pulmonary Medicine and head of the UBA service Cetr?ngolo Hospital Medical Clinic, who was not involved in the study, agreed: "We had many patients with influenza A H1N1 and some co-infection effectively. " Though he warned: "I do not think that is the only variable to explain the high mortality rate in July 2009.
The finding of researchers Malbr?n and Columbia University served to give a warning to doctors: "It is necessary, he stressed that applies Palacios vaccine pneumococcal bacteria in those who are at risk for complications from influenza . Also, doctors should make the testing of influenza viruses and other germs to give time antivirals and antibiotics as appropriate. "
Scientists have found a co-infection with pneumococcal bacteria in the most severe cases.
By: Valeria Rom?n
A year ago, the influenza A virus H1N1 was first detected in the northern hemisphere.
A month later, Argentina went into panic. There was not even a specific vaccine against the virus nor knew their characteristics. Health centers and hospitals overflowing with patients who wanted the swabs and antiviral. And schools suspended classes and social activities were reduced. The fear was based "largely" in which no one could explain why the country had one of the highest rates of mortality event on the planet. Now, there's an explanation.
Malbr?n Institute researchers, in Buenos Aires, and Columbia University in the U.S., reached a conclusion, published in the journal PLoS One: the severity of cases of influenza A H1N1 virus was due to a co-infection with pneumococcal bacteria, which was not detected in other countries. In 2009 there were 626 deaths from influenza A in Argentina. "In other epidemics, as in 1918, there were similar situations, and we started to analyze patient samples to detect not only the flu virus but 33 other pathogens," he told Clarin, Argentina's Gustavo Palacios, who investigates the Faculty of Medicine of the American university.
The 11 researchers (as Elsa Baumeister, Daniel Cisterna, and Ana Bussetti, among others) did a study of 199 swab samples were taken between June and July 2009. They were concerned that the mortality rate had the flu pandemic in the country for 17 July and 3056 cases were reported and 137 deaths. "The case mortality rate was 4.5% in Argentina, when the world did not exceed 0.8%," said Palacios.
At first, scientists thought of the possibility that the strain of flu virus that circulated in Argentina had suffered some type of mutation. They analyzed the genome, but the hypothesis was rejected. The other possibility was the detection of other germs that may be exacerbating the situation of patients.
After the analysis, found that 55% of the 39 patients with severe influenza, which had required the help of a ventilator or had died, had also suffered infection with pneumococcal bacteria. In the 160 patients studied mild, 20% were also affected by the pneumococcus. "The why of these co-infections in the country remains unclear. Further studies should be made", he said.
Meanwhile, Eduardo Giugno, director of the career of medical specialist in Pulmonary Medicine and head of the UBA service Cetr?ngolo Hospital Medical Clinic, who was not involved in the study, agreed: "We had many patients with influenza A H1N1 and some co-infection effectively. " Though he warned: "I do not think that is the only variable to explain the high mortality rate in July 2009.
The finding of researchers Malbr?n and Columbia University served to give a warning to doctors: "It is necessary, he stressed that applies Palacios vaccine pneumococcal bacteria in those who are at risk for complications from influenza . Also, doctors should make the testing of influenza viruses and other germs to give time antivirals and antibiotics as appropriate. "