• FluTrackers.com Inc. does not provide medical advice. Information on this web site is collected from various internet resources, and the FluTrackers board of directors makes no warranty to the safety, efficacy, correctness or completeness of the information posted on this site by any author or poster. The information collated here is for instructional and/or discussion purposes only and is NOT intended to diagnose or treat any disease, illness, or other medical condition. Every individual reader or poster should seek advice from their personal physician/healthcare practitioner before considering or using any interventions that are discussed on this website. By continuing to access this website you agree to consult your personal physican before using any interventions posted on this website, and you agree to hold harmless FluTrackers.com Inc., the board of directors, the members, and all authors and posters for any effects from use of any medication, supplement, vitamin or other substance, device, intervention, etc. mentioned in posts on this website, or other internet venues referenced in posts on this website.
  • We are not asking for any donations. Do not donate to any entity who says they are raising funds for us.

The response of medical virology laboratories to the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 outbreak in Paris ?le-de-France region

tetano

Editor, Senior Moderator
Pathol Biol (Paris). 2012 Dec 26. pii: S0369-8114(12)00197-6. doi: 10.1016/j.patbio.2012.11.002. [Epub ahead of print]
The response of medical virology laboratories to the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 outbreak in Paris ?le-de-France region.
Seringe E, Agut H.
Source

Universit? Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, ER1 DETIV, 83, boulevard de l'H?pital, 75651 Paris cedex 13, France; Public Health Unit, groupe hospitalier Piti?-Salp?tri?re, 83, boulevard de l'H?pital, 75651 Paris cedex 13, France.
Abstract

The outbreak of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was a challenge for the laboratories of Paris ?le-de-France region in charge of virological diagnosis. In order to evaluate the quality of their response to this challenge, a retrospective survey based on a self-administered standardized questionnaire was undertaken among the 18 hospital laboratories involved in A(H1N1)pdm09 virus detection over a period of 10 months from April 2009 to January 2010. All concerned laboratories responded to the survey. Due to imposed initial biosafety constraints and indications, virological diagnosis was performed in only two laboratories at the start of the studied period. Step by step, it was further settled in the other laboratories starting from June to November 2009. From the beginning, A(H1N1)pdm09-specific RT-PCR was considered the reference method while the use of rapid influenza detection tests remained temporary and concerned a minority of these laboratories. Among the overall 21,656 specimens received, a positive diagnosis of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was obtained in 5,390 cases (25%), the positivity range being significantly higher among women as compared to men (P<0.0001) and subjects below 45 years of age as compared to those over 65 years (P<0.0001). Two peaks in positivity frequency were observed at weeks 24 (30%, 8-12 June 2009) and 44 (50%, 26-30 October 2009) respectively, the latter one occurring 2 weeks earlier than the peak of epidemic at the national level. In contrast, a low positivity rate was detected at weeks 38-40 in relationship with other respiratory virus infections which were clinically misinterpreted as a peak of influenza epidemic. These data demonstrate the ability of medical virology laboratories of Paris ?le-de-France region to provide in real time a valuable diagnosis of A(H1N1)pdm09 virus infection and a relevant view of outbreak evolution, suggesting they will be a crucial component in the management of future influenza epidemics.

Copyright ? 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

PMID:
23273748
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23273748
 
Back
Top Bottom