ABSTRACT
We conducted a retrospective observational study at four German university hospitals of patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza in 2014/2015. Overall, a fatality rate of 8% was observed. Significantly more A(H1N1)pdm09 patients were admitted to ICU compared to those with A(H3N2). However, fatal outcome was not significantly increased among A(H1N1)pdm09 cases. Nosocomial infections were seen in 17% of cases. Systematic collection of data from hospitals will complement national influenza surveillance.
Subject(s)
Cross Infection/epidemiology , Cross Infection/virology , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/physiology , Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype/physiology , Influenza, Human/epidemiology , Influenza, Human/virology , Adult , Aged , Female , Germany/epidemiology , Hospitals, University , Humans , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/isolation & purification , Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype/isolation & purification , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63) is one of four common human respiratory coronaviruses. Despite high incidence, HCoV infections are grossly understudied. We here report a case of HCoV infection in a leukemia patient with fatal ARDS despite successful virus elimination by pegylated interferon-alpha (PEG-IFN-α). CASE: The 27-year-old female pre-T-ALL patient was treated according to the German-Multicenter Trial for Adult ALL protocol. No relevant infectious complications were seen until day 35 when the neutropenic patient developed fever without any clinical focus. Antibiotic prophylaxis was switched to meropenem. The patient deteriorated rapidly with respiratory failure due to ARDS. Anti-infectious therapy was escalated to additional linezolid and liposomal amphotericine-B. BAL revealed a significant viral load of HCoV-NL63. Based on successful application of PEG-IFN against the related SARS coronavirus in animal experiments, a single injection of 180 µg PEG-IFN-α2b was applied. Despite immediate initiation of treatment and elimination of virus in subsequent tests, the progressive lung failure led to death 7 d after onset of fever with massive lung bleeding as a consequence of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: This report emphasizes the fatal consequences of common respiratory virus infections in immunocompromised patients. HCoV-NL63 replication can be reduced by treatment with peg-IFN if diagnosed early.