Segregation of virulent influenza A(H1N1) variants in the lower respiratory tract of critically ill patients during the 2010-2011 seasonal epidemic.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Since its appearance in 2009, the pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus circulated worldwide causing several severe infections.

Methods

Respiratory samples from patients with 2009 influenza A(H1N1) and acute respiratory distress attending 24 intensive care units (ICUs) as well as from patients with lower respiratory tract infections not requiring ICU admission and community upper respiratory tract infections in the Lombardy region (10 million inhabitants) of Italy during the 2010-2011 winter-spring season, were analyzed.

Results

In patients with severe ILI, the viral load was higher in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) with respect to nasal swab (NS), (p<0.001) suggesting a higher virus replication in the lower respiratory tract. Four distinct virus clusters (referre

SUBMITTER: Piralla A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3237448 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature