1. Respiratory Syndrome and Respiratory Tract Infections in Foreign-Born and National Travelers Hospitalized with Fever in Italy.
- Author
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Matteelli, Alberto, Beltrame, Anna, Saleri, Nuccia, Bisoffi, Zeno, Allegri, Roberto, Volonterio, Alberto, Giola, Massimo, Perini, Paolo, Galimberti, Laura, Visonà, Raffaella, Donisi, Alessandra, Giani, Gloria, Scalzini, Alfredo, Gaiera, Giovanni, Ravasio, Laura, Carvalho, Anna C. C., and Gulletta, Maurizio
- Subjects
RESPIRATORY infections ,TUBERCULOSIS ,PNEUMONIA ,FEVER ,TRAVEL hygiene ,PATIENTS - Abstract
Background: We measured frequency and epidemiologic, clinical, and hematochemical variables associated with respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in foreign-born and national patients hospitalized with fever with a history of international travel, and compared the final diagnosis of RTI with the presence of a respiratory syndrome (RS) at presentation. Methods: A prospective, multicenter, observational study was conducted at tertiary care hospitals in Northern Italy from September 1998 to December 2000. Results: A final diagnosis of RTI was obtained in 40 cases (7.8%), 27 (675%) with lower RTI and 13 (32.5%) with upper RTI. The most common RTIs were pneumonia (35%) and pulmonary tuberculosis (15%). A white blood cell count ≥ 10,000 and an erythrocyte sedimentation rate ≥ 20 mm/h were independently associated with a final diagnosis of RTI; onset of symptoms at ≥ 16 days and ≥ 75% neutrophils were independently associated with lower RTI. An RS was identified in 51 (9.9%) of 515 travelers. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of a diagnosis of RS for a final diagnosis of RTI were 675%, 94.9%, 52.9%, and 972%, respectively. Conclusions: Pneumonia and pulmonary tuberculosis were frequent among foreign-born and national travelers with fever admitted to a tertiary care hospital. Half of the pneumonia cases did not present with an RS at first clinical examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2005