Predictors of H1N1 influenza in the emergency department: proposition for a modified H1N1 case definition. (4th September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Flick, H.; Drescher, M.; Prattes, J.; Tovilo, K.; Kessler, H.H.; Vander, K.; Seeber, K.; Palfner, M.; Raggam, R. B.; Avian, A.; Krause, R.; Hoenigl, M.; Raoult, D.
• Is Part Of: Clinical microbiology and infection. Volume 20:Number 2(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: O105
• Page End: O108
• Publication Date: 2013-09-04
• Subjects: Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; Diagnostic microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; 616.01
• DOI: 10.1111/1469-0691.12352
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1198-743X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="clm12352-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Reliable and rapid diagnosis of influenza A H1N1 is essential to initiate appropriate antiviral therapy and preventive measures. We analysed the differences in clinical presentation and laboratory parameters between emergency department patients with PCR‐confirmed H1N1 influenza infection (<italic>n</italic> = 199) and those with PCR‐negative influenza‐like illness (ILI;<italic> n</italic> = 252). Cough, wheezing, leucopenia, eosinopenia and a lower C‐reactive protein remained significant predictors of H1N1 influenza. Proposed combinations of clinical symptoms with simple laboratory parameters (e.g. reported or measured fever and either cough or leucocytes &lt;8.5 × 10⁹/L) were clearly superior to currently used official ILI case definitions that use clinical criteria alone.</p> </abstract>