Etiology and clinical course of the patients with severe influenza / acute respiratory infection requiring hospitalization during 2015-2016 Influenza season

INTRODUCTION[|]The aim of the present study was to determine the etiological profile, clinical course, and outcome of patients hospitalized with severe influenza during the 2015-2016 influenza season.[¤]METHODS[|]Patients with severe influenza who were admitted to the emergency department of the hospital between December 1, 2015 and March 15, 2016 and who required admission were included. The presence of dyspnea, tachypnea, tachycardia, hypotension, hypoxia, mental status changes, severe dehydration, or chest X-ray compatible with bronchopneumonia/pneumonia were considered 'severe influenza.' Nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens from all patients were tested for respiratory viruses using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction technique.[¤]RESULTS[|]Of a total of 95 hospitalized patients, 65 patients (68.4%; 38 adults and 27 children) were virus-positive. The etiological virus was 42 (64.6%) cases of influenza A (H1N1), 9 (13.8%) of influenza A (H3N2), and 5 (7.7%) of coronavirus. Six patients (9.2%) were pregnant. Only 1 pregnant patient died, due to H1N1 influenza. Fifteen (23%; 14 adults and 1 child) required follow-up in the intensive care unit (ICU). Nine adult patients died [7 due to influenza A (6 H1N1, 1 H3N2), 1 due to human metapneumovirus, 1 due to coronavirus], but all of the children survived. The case-fatality rate of H1N1 infection was 14.3%.[¤]DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION[|]Two-thirds of the admitted patients had an influenza A H1N1 infection. Seven (16.7%) of them required ICU follow-up. The H1N1 case-fatality rate was 14.3%. Patients with risk factors who have severe influenza should be hospitalized.[¤]