Antibody responses to influenza viruses in paediatric patients and their contacts at the onset of the 2009 pandemic in Mexico.

INTRODUCTION: On April 2009, the Mexican Ministry of Health received notification of cases of severe pneumonia mostly affecting young healthy people; this was the beginning of the first influenza pandemic of the 21st century. The nature of the immune response to the influenza A(H1N1)2009 pandemic strain in Mexico at the beginning of the pandemic outbreak has not been completely defined. We describe the serological response to the 2009 pandemic influenza virus in paediatric patients with influenza-like illness, their household contacts (HHCs), and exposed health-care workers (HCWs) at the beginning of the pandemic outbreak in Mexico City. METHODOLOGY: thirty pre-epidemic and 129 epidemic samples were collected and serum antibodies were measured against A(H1N1)2009 pandemic virus and two non-pandemic swine influenza viruses by an haemagglutination inhibition assay . RESULTS: 91% (29/32) of the convalescence samples from confirmed patients had an antibody titre ≥ 10 (GMT 25), 63% (41/65) of the HHCs (GMT 12), 41% of HCWs (GMT 6) and 13% (4/30) of pre-epidemic samples (GMT 6) for the pandemic influenza virus. Of the 32 confirmed cases, 60% had an antibody titre ≥ 40 for the pandemic strain, 53% for the A/swine/Iowa(H1N1) virus (GMT 62) and 43% for the A/swine/Texas(H3N2) virus (GMT 66). CONCLUSION: The antibody response to 2009 pandemic influenza virus was widespread in convalescence samples from patients with confirmed pandemic influenza infection but the GMT was below the protective titre. There was no evidence that antibodies to the swine influenza viruses had cross-protective effect against the 2009 pandemic influenza virus.

[Clinical characteristics of pediatric patients treated for influenza A (H1N1). The 2009 pandemic in Mexico]. / Características de los pacientes pediátricos atendidos por influenza A H1N1. La pandemia de 2009 en México.

BACKGROUND: Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus was first reported in April 2009. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical course of patients with influenza-like illness treated in a tertiary care pediatric hospital. METHODS: Cross-sectional analytical study, encompassing the period from April 2009 to March 2010. Clinical and demographic information was obtained from clinical records. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics, using a univariate analysis with the chi-square test, the exact Fisher test, and the Mann-Whitney U test for quantitative variables. RESULTS: 240 patients were included, out of which 53.9 % were female; median age was 5 years. Sixty four cases (26.6 %) were confirmed, 38 % had and underlying condition, and 10 % had received the influenza vaccine. One hundred and sixteen patients (48 %) were hospitalized. With regard to mortality, 10 out of 64 confirmed cases died, 3 of the 86 of the disregarded cases, and 2 of 90 without a confirmatory test died (p < 0.05). The patients who died started antiviral treatment on day 7; conversely, those who survived started the treatment on day 4 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Lethality was higher in patients with confirmed infection. Antiviral treatment within the first 48 hours was observed to be essential for patients with risk for the development of complications.

INTRODUCCIÓN: en abril de 2009 se informó por primera vez del virus pandémico de la influenza A H1N1. El objetivo del presente estudio es describir el curso clínico de los pacientes atendidos con enfermedad tipo influenza en un hospital pediátrico de tercer nivel. MÉTODOS: estudio transversal analítico que comprendió el periodo de abril de 2009 a marzo de 2010. La información clínica y demográfica se obtuvo de los expedientes clínicos. El análisis de los datos se llevó a cabo mediante estadística descriptiva e inferencial, para lo cual se aplicó análisis univariado mediante chi cuadrada, prueba exacta de Fisher y U de Mann-Whitney para las variables cuantitativas. RESULTADOS: se incluyeron 240 pacientes, 53.9 % del sexo femenino; la mediana de la edad fue de cinco años. Se confirmaron 64 casos (26.6 %), 38 % tenía enfermedad subyacente y 10 % había sido vacunado contra el virus de la influenza. Fueron hospitalizados 116 pacientes (48 %). Respecto a la mortalidad, 10 casos fallecieron de los 64 confirmados, tres de los 86 casos descartados y dos de los 90 que carecían de prueba confirmatoria (p < 0.05). Los pacientes que fallecieron iniciaron tratamiento antiviral el séptimo día; por su parte, los que no fallecieron iniciaron el tratamiento en el cuarto día (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONES: la letalidad fue mayor en los pacientes con infección confirmada. Se observó que el tratamiento antiviral en las primeras 48 horas es esencial para los pacientes con riesgo para desarrollar complicaciones.

Estudio multimodal de higiene de manos en un hospital pediátrico de tercer nivel / Multimodal study of hand hygiene in a third level pediatric hospital

Introducción. El apego de los profesionales de la salud a la higiene de manos, en general, es menor a 60%, a pesar de la sencillez y la efectividad de esta medida. Las actividades de capacitación son desestimadas por ser consideradas una estrategia demasiado convencional. El objetivo de el presente trabajo fue evaluar el apego en la higiene de manos en los trabajadores de un hospital a través de implementar una estrategia tipo multimodal. Métodos. Se realizó un estudio de series temporales, que incluyó tres periodos de observación en 3 años. Se implementaron 5 componentes en paralelo: cambios en infraestructura, disponibilidad de los insumos, capacitación y educación para los profesionales de la salud, monitoreo de las prácticas de higiene de manos y retroalimentación, recordatorios. Resultados. En el primer estudio (2009) la prevalencia de lavado de manos fue de 53.84; menos del 10% lo llevó a cabo en los 5 momentos. Para el segundo periodo en junio 2010, (n = 204) la prevalencia fue 62.74; 13.23% lo realizó en los 5 momentos. En 2011 la prevalencia fue 51; 38.9% lo hizo en los 5 momentos (p < 0.05). Conclusiones. Al implementar un proceso multimodal se incrementó el cumplimiento de forma significativa, sin modificarse la prevalencia.

Background. Despite the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of hand hygiene, compliance is less than 60% in health care workers. Training activities are rejected because they are considered too conventional. The aim of this study was to implement a multimodal hand hygiene strategy to assess compliance in health care workers. Methods. A time-series study was performed including three observation periods during 3 years. Five components were implemented in parallel: changes in infrastructure, availability of supplies, training and education for health care workers, monitoring hand hygiene practices and feedback were recorded. Results. During the first period (2009), the prevalence of hand washing was 53.84; less than 10% complied with the five moments. For the second period in June 2010 (n = 204), the prevalence was 62.74; 13.23% complied with the five moments. In 2011 the prevalence was 51; 38.9% complied with the five moments (p < 0.05). Conclusions. After implementing a multimodal strategy, compliance increased significantly with a similar prevalence.