Risk factors for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus seroconversion among hospital staff, Singapore.

We describe incidence and risk factors for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection in healthcare personnel during the June-September 2009 epidemic in Singapore. Personnel contributed 3 serologic samples during June-October 2009, with seroconversion defined as a ≥4-fold increase in hemagglutination inhibition titers to pandemic (H1N1) 2009. Of 531 participants, 35 showed evidence of seroconversion. Seroconversion rates were highest in nurses (28/290) and lowest in allied health staff (2/116). Significant risk factors on multivariate analysis were being a nurse (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0-19.6) and working in pandemic (H1N1) 2009 isolation wards (aOR 4.5, 95% CI 1.3-15.6). Contact with pandemic (H1N1) 2009-infected colleagues (aOR 2.5, 95% CI 0.9-6.6) and larger household size (aOR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0-1.4) were of borderline significance. Our study suggests that seroconversion was associated with occupational and nonoccupational risk factors.

A118G single nucleotide polymorphism of human mu-opioid receptor gene influences pain perception and patient-controlled intravenous morphine consumption after intrathecal morphine for postcesarean analgesia.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that genetic variability at position 118 of the human mu-opioid receptor gene altered patients' response to intravenous morphine. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether this polymorphism contributes to the variability in response to morphine for postcesarean analgesia. METHODS: After investigators obtained informed consent, 588 healthy women received 0.1 mg intrathecal morphine for postcesarean analgesia. Their blood samples were genotyped for the A118G polymorphism-A118 homozygous (AA), heterozygous (AG), or homozygous for the G allele (GG). Pain scores, the severity of nausea and vomiting, the incidence of pruritus, and the total self-administered intravenous morphine were recorded for the first 24 postoperative hours. RESULTS: Two hundred seventy women (46%) were AA, 234 (40%) were AG, and 82 (14%) were GG. The 24-h self-administered intravenous morphine consumption was lowest in the AA group (P = 0.001; mean, 5.9; 95% confidence interval, 5.1-6.8) versus the AG (8.0; 6.9-9.1) and GG groups (9.4; 7.3-11.5). Pain scores were lowest in the AA group and highest in the GG group, with a statistically significant difference detected between AA, AG, and GG (P = 0.049). Total morphine consumption was also influenced by patients' age and paying status. AA group was associated with the highest incidence of nausea (26 of 272 [9.6%]; P = 0.02) versus the other two groups (13 of 234 [5.6%] and 1 of 82 [1.2%] for AG and GG, respectively). CONCLUSION: Genetic variation at position 118 of the mu-opioid receptor is associated with interindividual differences in pain scores, self-administered intravenous morphine, and the incidence of nausea postoperatively.

Ethnic differences in pain perception and patient-controlled analgesia usage for postoperative pain.

UNLABELLED: There are reports suggesting that sensitivity to and tolerance of both clinical and experimental pain differ among ethnic groups. We examined self-rated pain score and morphine usage in 1034 women who underwent elective lower cesarian section (LSCS) for their deliveries. Data on pain scores and amount of total morphine use according to patient-controlled analgesia were collected every 4 hours. Overall, lowest pain scores were recorded 12 hours after surgery and highest at 24 hours. Morphine consumption was highest within the first 4 hours and lowest between 12 and 16 hours. There were statistically significant ethnic group differences in pain scores (P = 1.7 x 10(-7)) and morphine usage (P = 2.8 x 10(-15)) between ethnic groups, with Indians having the highest mean pain score and using the highest amount of morphine. The ethnic differences in pain score and morphine self-administration persisted after controlling for age, body mass index, and duration of operation. PERSPECTIVE: Our findings of highly significant ethnic group difference in self-reported pain level and the amount of analgesia self-administered may have implications on optimal management of acute postoperative pain. Inadequate management of pain after cesarian deliveries might affect the emotional well-being and physical recovery of patients and affect mother-child bonding.