Characteristics of human metapneumovirus infection prevailing in hospital wards housing patients with severe disabilities.

Characteristics of human metapneumovirus infection prevailing in hospital wards housing patients with severe disabilities. Jpn J Infect Dis. 2013;66(3):195-200 Authors: Matsuda S, Nakamura M, Hirano E, Kiyota N, Omura T, Suzuki Y, Noda M, Kimura H Abstract Epidemics of infectious diseases often occur at long-term inpatient facilities for patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities. However, the pathogens causing these infections remain unknown in approximately half of such epidemics. Two epidemics of respiratory tract infection occurred in 2 wards in the National Hospital Organization Ehime Hospital (prevalence 1, 34 infected out of 59 inpatients in the A ward in September 2011; prevalence 2, 8 infected out of 58 inpatients in the B ward in June 2012). Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) was detected from the nasal (and some pharyngeal) swabs from 17 patients. Based on phylogenetic analysis of viral genomes, the virus was grouped in subgroup A2 (prevalence 1) and B2 (prevalence 2). We considered that the viruses had spread through the 2 wards. The average duration of high fever in the 42 patients was 6.8 days, with the majority of fevers exceeding 38℃ (79%) and being accompanied by a productive cough. Ten out of 17 patients (59%) in whom HMPV was detected had decreased lymphocyte and increased monocyte counts in the blood. Eleven cases (65%) had elevated-C reactive protein levels and fever protraction as well as images of bronchitis or...
Source: Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tags: Jpn J Infect Dis Source Type: research