Respiratory syncytial virus infection in adults: Differences with influenza.

INTRODUCTION: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes an acute respiratory illness similar to influenza, although there are few data comparing both of them in adults. The existence of clinical differences between these two infections could have implications for their management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective observational cohort study including 63 adults with positive PCR for RSV and 221 for influenza during winter 2018-2019. Epidemiological, clinical characteristics and outcomes were contrasted between both groups. RESULTS: Compared to influenza, RSV-positive patients presented a higher association with active neoplasia (OR=2.9; 95% CI: 1.2-6.9), dependence for basic activities of daily living (OR=3.4; 95% CI: 1.4-8.2) and immunosuppression due to chronic glucocorticoid administration (OR=7.6; 95% CI: 1.6-36.1). At diagnosis, fever was less common (OR=0.3; 95% CI: 0.2-0.7), and C-reactive protein level ≥100mg/l was more frequent (OR=2.1; 95% CI: 1.0-4.5). They developed bacterial co-infection by Staphylococcus aureus in a higher proportion (OR=8.3; 95% CI: 1.5-46.9) and presented a greater need for admission to the intensive care unit (OR=5.4; 95% CI: 1.4-19.2). CONCLUSION: RSV is an important cause of respiratory illness in adults during the influenza season. It especially affects vulnerable patients with chronic underlying diseases, and has a higher morbidity than influenza. For all these reasons, specific detection, prevention and treatment of RSV is necessary in order to reduce the consumption of health care resources due to RSV disease in adults.

Infección por virus respiratorio sincitial en adultos: diferencias con la gripe / Respiratory syncytial virus infection in adults: Differences with influenza

Introducción: El virus respiratorio sincitial (VRS) produce una enfermedad respiratoria aguda parecida a la gripe, aunque en adultos existen pocos datos que las comparen. La existencia de diferencias clínicas entre ambas infecciones podría conllevar implicaciones en su manejo. Materiales y métodos: Estudio observacional de cohortes retrospectivo incluyendo 63 adultos con PCR positiva para VRS y 221 para gripe durante el invierno 2018-2019. Se contrastaron las características epidemiológicas, clínicas y desenlaces entre ambos grupos. Resultados: En comparación con la gripe los pacientes VRS positivos asociaron mayor relación con neoplasia activa (OR=2,9; IC 95%: 1,2-6,9), dependencia para las actividades básicas de la vida diaria (OR=3,4; IC 95%: 1,4-8,2) e inmunosupresión por administración crónica de glucocorticoides (OR=7,6; IC 95%: 1,6-36,1). Al diagnóstico era menos común la presencia de fiebre (OR=0,3; IC 95%: 0,2-0,7) y más frecuente un nivel de proteína C reactiva≥100mg/l (OR=2,1; IC 95%: 1,0-4,5). Desarrollaron coinfección bacteriana por Staphylococcus aureus en mayor proporción (OR=8,3; IC 95%: 1,5-46,9) y presentaron una mayor necesidad de ingreso en la unidad de cuidados intensivos (OR=5,4; IC 95%: 1,4-19,2). Conclusión: El VRS es una causa importante de enfermedad respiratoria en adultos durante la época de gripe. Afecta especialmente a pacientes vulnerables con enfermedades crónicas de base, y presenta una morbilidad clínica superior a la gripe. Por todo ello es necesaria la detección, prevención y tratamiento específicos del VRS con el objetivo de reducir el consumo de recursos sanitarios que supone la enfermedad por VRS en adultos.(AU)

Introduction: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes an acute respiratory illness similar to influenza, although there are few data comparing both of them in adults. The existence of clinical differences between these two infections could have implications for their management. Materials and methods: Retrospective observational cohort study including 63 adults with positive PCR for RSV and 221 for influenza during winter 2018–2019. Epidemiological, clinical characteristics and outcomes were contrasted between both groups. Results: Compared to influenza, RSV-positive patients presented a higher association with active neoplasia (OR=2.9; 95% CI: 1.2–6.9), dependence for basic activities of daily living (OR=3.4; 95% CI: 1.4–8.2) and immunosuppression due to chronic glucocorticoid administration (OR=7.6; 95% CI: 1.6–36.1). At diagnosis, fever was less common (OR=.3; 95% CI: .2–.7), and C-reactive protein level ≥100mg/L was more frequent (OR=2.1; 95% CI: 1.0–4.5). They developed bacterial co-infection by Staphylococcus aureus in a higher proportion (OR=8.3; 95% CI: 1.5–46.9) and presented a greater need for admission to the intensive care unit (OR=5.4; 95% CI: 1.4–19.2). Conclusion: RSV is an important cause of respiratory illness in adults during the influenza season. It especially affects vulnerable patients with chronic underlying diseases, and has a higher clinical morbidity than influenza. For all these reasons, specific detection, prevention and treatment of RSV is necessary in order to reduce the consumption of health care resources due to RSV disease in adults.(AU)

Decisiones al final de la vida: suspensión de antibióticos en presencia de infección activa / End-of-life decisions: foregoing antibiotic therapy in patients with an active infection

La limitación de esfuerzos terapéuticos es una medida escasamente evaluada en nuestro medio. Se valoran las características de los pacientes en los que se retiran los antibióticos en presencia de una infección activa. Se recogieron datos de todos los pacientes ancianos ingresados consecutivamente en medicina interna con infección activa a los que se les suspendía el antibiótico. Se compararon las características de los pacientes que fallecieron y de los que no. En el estudio se incluyó a 63 pacientes (8,9% de los ingresos); 84,6 ± 9,1 años. Un 86% tenía demencia, un 73%, incapacidad, y un 30%, neoplasia activa. El motivo de la retirada de los antibióticos fue siempre la percepción de una muerte cercana y/o la falta de respuesta al tratamiento. La mortalidad fue del 89%. Entre los que fallecieron, predominó el sexo femenino (el 95 frente al 76%) y tanto el tiempo sin antibiótico (2,9 frente a 8,5 días) como la estancia media (9,6 frente a 16,0 días) fueron más breves (p < 0,05). La suspensión del antibiótico es una medida no infrecuente en nuestro medio y está concentrada en pacientes con mal pronóstico vital y mala situación previa

Limitation of therapy has been little studied in our environment. Data were gathered on all patients with active infection consecutively admitted to the internal medicine department of our hospital in whom antibiotic therapy was withdrawn or withheld. The characteristics of patients who died and those of patients who survived were compared. A total of 63 patients (8.9% of admissions) were included; the mean age was 84.6 years ± 9.1. Dementia was present in 86%, incapacity in 73% and neoplasms in 30%. In all patients, the reason for withdrawing or withholding antibiotic treatment was the perception of impending death and/or lack of response to active treatment. In all patients, the families were involved in the decision to forego treatment. Mortality was 89%. Female sex was more common (95% versus 76%) and length of stay (9.6 versus 16.0 days) and time without antibiotic treatment (2.9 versus 8.5 days) were shorter in patients who died than in the group who survived. The decision to forego antibiotic treatment is not infrequent in our hospital. Most patients were elderly, had diseases with poor vital prognosis, and showed poor prior health status