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Risk factors for healthcare-associated, laboratory-confirmed influenza in hospitalized pediatric patients: a

Kateri H Leckerman1, Eileen Sherman, Jillian Knorr

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
|February 27, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric patients with healthcare-associated laboratory-confirmed influenza (HA-LCI) were studied. Asthma emerged as a significant independent risk factor for HA-LCI in hospitalized children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Hospital Epidemiology
  • Respiratory Illnesses

Background:

  • Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) pose a significant threat to hospitalized patients, particularly vulnerable pediatric populations.
  • Influenza, a common respiratory illness, can lead to severe complications and prolonged hospital stays.
  • Understanding the specific risk factors for healthcare-associated laboratory-confirmed influenza (HA-LCI) in children is crucial for targeted prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the clinical features and outcomes of pediatric patients diagnosed with HA-LCI.
  • To identify independent risk factors associated with the development of HA-LCI in hospitalized children.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study was conducted involving 46 hospitalized pediatric patients with confirmed HA-LCI.
  • Data collected included clinical exposures in the three days preceding symptom onset.
  • Multivariate analysis was employed to identify independent risk factors.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in clinical exposures were found between cases and controls in the 3 days prior to HA-LCI onset.
  • Asthma was identified as an independent risk factor for HA-LCI in the studied pediatric population.
  • The odds ratio for asthma as a risk factor was 3.49 (95% confidence interval, 1.25-9.75).

Conclusions:

  • Asthma is a significant independent risk factor for developing healthcare-associated laboratory-confirmed influenza in hospitalized children.
  • Further research into preventative measures for pediatric influenza in hospital settings, especially for asthmatic children, is warranted.
  • Enhanced surveillance and infection control protocols may be necessary for high-risk pediatric groups.

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