Microbiología Médica y Diagnóstico

Hospital Admissions in Patients with COPD during the 2009 Flu Pandemic

Abstract

Boixeda R, Elias L, Bacca S, Gabillo A, Cadpevila JA, Fernández- Fernández J, Vilà X and Almirall J

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been described as an underlying medical cause for the influenza A infection (H1N1). In this study we analyzed the presence of H1N1 virus infection in COPD patients and compliance protocols.

Material and Methods: We identified COPD patients hospitalized for lower respiratory infection (acute exacerbation or pneumonia) in the period of pandemic influenza. The microbiological analysis was performed according to standard clinical practice according to published protocols.

Results: We included 129 episodes in 110 patients, 104 with acute exacerbation and 25 for pneumonia. Pharyngeal samples were studied for detection of H1N1 in 17 patients, of which 5 cases were positive (3.9% of episodes). These patients were younger, more fever, headache and increased need for mechanical ventilation. The patients studied for H1N1 infection were those with clinical worsening and radiographic progression. According to the criteria of clinical suspicion for H1N1 infection of the published protocol, throat swab was performed in 24-44% of episodes of hospital admission in COPD patients during the peak incidence of influenza pandemic.

Conclusion: The study of H1N1 infection was made illegally in COPD patients admitted. Of the patients evaluated, we found no biological data that could guide the virus box. Nor have we observed differences in respect to the severity of COPD based on spirometric data.