Chronic use of inhaled corticosteroids in patients admitted for respiratory virus infections: a 6-year prospective multicenter study.

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) have been associated with increased risk of pneumonia. Their impact on respiratory virus infections is unclear. We performed a post-hoc analysis of the FLUVAC cohort, a multicenter prospective cohort study of adults hospitalized with influenza-like illness (ILI) during six consecutive influenza seasons (2012-2018). All patients were tested for respiratory virus infection by multiplex PCR on nasopharyngeal swabs and/or bronchoalveolar lavage. Risk factors were identified by logistic regression analysis. Among the 2658 patients included, 537 (20.2%) were treated with ICS before admission, of whom 282 (52.5%, 282/537) tested positive for at least one respiratory virus. Patients on ICS were more likely to test positive for non-influenza respiratory viruses (25.1% vs. 19.5%, P = 0.004), especially for adenovirus (aOR 2.36, 95% CI 1.18-4.58), and respiratory syncytial virus (aOR 2.08, 95% CI 1.39-3.09). Complications were reported in 55.9% of patients on ICS (300/537), primarily pneumonia (171/535, 32%). Among patients on chronic ICS who tested positive for respiratory virus, 14.2% (40/282) were admitted to intensive care unit, and in-hospital mortality rate was 2.8% (8/282). Chronic use of ICS is associated with an increased risk of adenovirus or RSV infections in patients admitted for ILI.

Attitudes of hospital physicians toward childhood mandatory vaccines in France: A cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Due to a decades-long crisis of confidence in vaccination, in 2017 France extended the number of mandatory early childhood vaccines from 3 to 11. AIMS: To describe the opinions of hospital staff physicians (HSPs) regarding this measure, quantify the proportion who would have preferred measures based on education, and study the factors associated with the latter opinion. METHODS: Cross-sectional nationwide survey with a standardized questionnaire in 2018-2019 among HSPs in 14 French public hospitals. The factors associated with HSPs' preference for education and persuasion over mandatory vaccination were analyzed with simple and multiple Poisson regressions. RESULTS: The analyses included 1,795 HSPs (participation rate of 86%). Among them, 84% considered the extension of mandatory childhood vaccination essential given the epidemiological context at the time; in a later question, 40% would have preferred education and persuasion. Multiple regressions showed that the latter tended to be younger and less trustful of sources of information about vaccination. They were more likely to think that information on the rationale behind the national vaccination policy lacked clarity and that the extension of mandatory vaccines was not essential, even in the current epidemiologic situation. CONCLUSION: Although most HSPs agreed that the extension of mandatory childhood vaccines was essential, some were ambivalent about its coercive philosophy. Further research is necessary to better understand the reasons of this ambivalence. A fraction did not understand the French vaccination strategy well. Efforts to explain its details to HSPs and an overhaul of their initial training on vaccination are still needed.

In-hospital and midterm post-discharge complications of adults hospitalised with respiratory syncytial virus infection in France, 2017-2019: an observational study.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and in-hospital and post-discharge outcomes of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection among adults hospitalised with influenza-like illness (ILI) and compared against patients admitted for influenza. METHODS: Adults hospitalised with ILI were prospectively included from five French university hospitals over two consecutive winter seasons (2017/2018 and 2018/2019). RSV and influenza virus were detected by multiplex reverse transcription PCR on nasopharyngeal swabs. RSV-positive patients were compared to RSV-negative and influenza-positive hospitalised patients. Poisson regression models were used to estimate the adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) associated with in-hospital and post-discharge outcomes between RSV and influenza infections. The in-hospital outcome was a composite of the occurrence of at least one complication, length of stay ≥7 days, intensive care unit admission, use of mechanical ventilation and in-hospital death. Post-discharge outcome included 30- and 90-day all-cause mortality and 90-day readmission rates. RESULTS: Overall, 1428 hospitalised adults with ILI were included. RSV was detected in 8% (114 of 1428) and influenza virus in 31% (437 of 1428). Patients hospitalised with RSV were older than those with influenza (mean age 73.0 versus 68.8 years, p=0.015) with a higher frequency of chronic respiratory or cardiac disease (52% versus 39%, p=0.012, and 52% versus 41%, p=0.039, respectively) and longer hospitalisation duration (median stay 8 versus 6 days, p<0.001). Anti-influenza therapies were less prescribed among RSV patients than influenza patients (20% versus 66%, p<0.001). In-hospital composite outcome was poorer in RSV patients (aPR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.1) than in those hospitalised with influenza. No difference was observed for the post-discharge composite outcome (aPR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8-1.6). CONCLUSION: RSV infection results in serious respiratory illness, with worse in-hospital outcomes than influenza and with similar midterm post-discharge outcomes.

Vaccine hesitancy among hospital staff physicians: A cross-sectional survey in France in 2019.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare professionals, because they recommend vaccines to their patients, answer their questions, and vaccinate them, are the cornerstone of vaccination in France. They can nonetheless be affected by vaccine hesitancy (VH). AIMS: We sought to study the opinions, practices, and perceptions of French hospital staff physicians (HSPs) toward vaccination and the prevalence and correlates of VH among them. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in 14 public hospitals in France from September 2018 to October 2019. HSPs completed a standardized questionnaire -most of the time face-to-face - about their vaccine-related attitudes and practices. Data were weighted for age and sex. An agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis of the HSPs' perceptions and opinions toward vaccination allowed us to identify vaccine-hesitant HSPs, and multiple Poisson regression with robust standard errors let us study the factors associated with VH. RESULTS: The study included 1,795 HSPs (participation rate: 86%). Almost all (93.7%) were strongly favorable to vaccination, even though 42.2% (95CI = 39.8-44.6) showed moderate VH. VH prevalence was lowest among infectious disease specialists (12.3%; 95CI = 6.7-21.3) and pediatricians (27.7%; 95CI = 21.4-35.2). Hesitant HSPs were less trustful of vaccination information sources and doubted the safety of vaccines more often than HSPs with almost no VH. Compared with non-hesitant HSPs, those with higher VH had less often taken a medical course about vaccination and were less likely to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza, to recommend vaccines to their patients and to try to convince vaccine-hesitant patients to be vaccinated. CONCLUSIONS: Strong favorability to vaccination does not prevent VH, which was observed in most specialties. Interventions are required to help hesitant HSPs to adopt more proactive vaccination practices.

Non-influenza respiratory viruses in adult patients admitted with influenza-like illness: a 3-year prospective multicenter study.

PURPOSE: To describe the burden, and characteristics, of influenza-like illness (ILI) associated with non-influenza respiratory viruses (NIRV). METHODS: We performed a prospective, multicenter, observational study of adults admitted with ILI during three influenza seasons (2012-2015). Patients were screened for picornavirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), coronavirus, human metapneumovirus, adenovirus, bocavirus, parainfluenza virus, and influenza, by PCR on nasopharyngeal samples. We excluded patients coinfected with NIRV and influenza. RESULTS: Among 1421 patients enrolled, influenza virus was detected in 535 (38%), and NIRV in 215 (15%), mostly picornavirus (n = 61), RSV (n = 53), coronavirus 229E (n = 48), and human metapneumovirus (n = 40). In-hospital mortality was 5% (NIRV), 4% (influenza), and 5% (no respiratory virus). As compared to influenza, NIRV were associated with age (median, 73 years vs. 68, P = 0.026), chronic respiratory diseases (53% vs. 45%, P = 0.034), cancer (14% vs. 9%, P = 0.029), and immunosuppressive drugs (21% vs. 14%, P = 0.028), and inversely associated with diabetes (18% vs. 25%, P = 0.038). On multivariable analysis, only chronic respiratory diseases (OR 1.5 [1.1-2.0], P = 0.008), and diabetes (OR 0.5 [0.4-0.8], P = 0.01) were associated with NIRV detection. CONCLUSIONS: NIRV are common in adults admitted with ILI during influenza seasons. Outcomes are similar in patients with NIRV, influenza, or no respiratory virus.

Attitudes, knowledge, and willingness to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza among patients hospitalized with influenza-like-illness: impact of diagnostic testing.

Influenza vaccine adherence remains low. Communication of virological diagnosis to adults hospitalized with influenza-like illness (ILI) could improve their willingness to be subsequently vaccinated. We prospectively assessed, in adults hospitalized with ILI in six French university hospitals, their willingness to be vaccinated against influenza in the subsequent season, both before and after the communication of RT-PCR Influenza laboratory result; we identified then the determinants associated with the willingness to be vaccinated.A total of 309 patients were included during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 influenza seasons; 43.8% reported being vaccinated against influenza for the current season; before communication of influenza laboratory results, 65.1% reported willingness to be vaccinated during the subsequent season. Influenza was virologically confirmed in 103 patients (33.3%). The rate of vaccine willingness increased to 70.4% (p = .02) after communication of influenza laboratory results. Factors independently associated with the willingness to be vaccinated were the perception of influenza vaccine benefits (adjusted relative risk (aRR): 1.06, 95%CI 1.02-1.10), cues to action (aRR: 1.08, 95%CI 1.03-1.12), current season influenza vaccination (aRR: 1.38, 95%CI 1.20-1.59) and communication of a positive influenza laboratory result (aRR: 1.18, 95%CI 1.03-1.34). This last was associated with the willingness to be vaccinated only in the subpopulation of patients not vaccinated (aRR: 1.53, 95%CI 1.19-1.96).In patients hospitalized with ILI, communication of a positive influenza diagnostic led to a better appreciation of the disease's severity and increased the willingness to be vaccinated. This approach might be particularly beneficial in patients who do not have a history of influenza vaccination.

Factors associated with poor outcomes among adults hospitalized for influenza in France: A three-year prospective multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Influenza is an important cause of serious illness and death, particularly in elderly and high-risk groups. OBJECTIVES: Aim of this study was to identify factors associated with poor outcomes among adults hospitalized in France for laboratory-confirmed seasonal influenza. STUDY DESIGN: Patients hospitalized for influenza were identified in a prospective, multicenter study carried out in French hospitals during three consecutive influenza seasons (2012-2015). Influenza virus infection was confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were compared according to the virus type and subtype. Risk factors for complications, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and death were analyzed by backward stepwise logistic regression. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 566 patients, of whom 56% were older than 65 years and 82% had underlying chronic illnesses. Type A influenza viruses infected 422 patients (75%), including subtype H3N2 in 239 patients (57%). The prior vaccine coverage rate was 38%. Complications occurred in 255 patients (45%), consisting mainly of pneumonia (n=143, 30%) and respiratory failure (n=116, 20%). Eighty-three patients (15%) were admitted to an ICU, and the in-hospital mortality rate was 4% (n=21). Sixty-six patients (12%) received oseltamivir. Age over 65 years was the only identified risk factor for complications. Risk factors for ICU admission were an absence of vaccination, no oseltamivir administration before admission, pre-existing chronic respiratory disease, and current smoking. Age over 65 years and ICU admission were risk factors for death. CONCLUSIONS: Older individuals and patients with underlying conditions are most at risk of influenza complications. Vaccination and early oseltamivir administration, both of which are recommended for these patients, appear to reduce ICU admissions.