Influenza A H1N1: Retrospective Analysis of PCR Confirmed Cases of H1N1 Infections in Styria - Risk Factors, Clinical Features and Outcome. Development of a Clinical Score for Suspected H1N1 Infection.
Data Collection
Collected from past medical records and data - RetrospectiveCase-Control
Comparing exposures between individuals with and without disease in order to identify potential risk factors.Summary
Study start date: October 1, 2010
Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.This retrospective study will analyse all PCR-proven H1N1 cases from the influenza season 2009/2010 treated within the styrian "LKH hospital network". For this purpose all PCR-positive case files are reviewed in Medocs (electronic patients database) and data regarding clinical presentation, laboratory and radiological findings, treatment, outcome and preexisting underlying chronic illnesses will be systematically collected. In a second step the same data collection will be performed in a group of PCR-negative patients, which were tested during the influenza season 2009/2010 for influenza-like illness. The data from the PCR-positive group will be compared to the data from the PCR-negative group. We expect significant differences between the proven and unproven group regarding the primary presentation at hospital. Based on these results a clinical score will be developed. This score should improve H1N1 case identification in emergency departments, even if specific diagnostic test are negative (rapid antigen testing) or still pending (PCR), reduce the number of missed hospitalized H1N1 infection and optimize the decision making process in emergency departments regarding which patient has to be admitted with infection control measures and which not, and as infection control measures are expensive (face masks, gloves) and limited (isolation room), such a score should also reduce unnecessary expense. To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the score a prospective study will follow in the influenza season 2010/2011.
Protocol
This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.800 patients to be enrolled
Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.Case-Control
Eligibility
Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.Any sex
Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.Healthy volunteers not allowed
If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Inclusion criteria: 1. All patients tested for influenza illness by PCR of respiratory tract specimens at the Institute of Hygiene, Karl-Franzens-University Graz, and at the Institute for Hospital Hygiene and Microbiology, KAGES Graz. 2. Stratification according to the following definition: * PCR-negative influenza-like illness (ILI) is defined as febrile illness tested by PCR for the presence of influenza infection but finally not proved as influenza infection. * Influenza illness is defined as febrile illness confirmed by positive PCR as true influenza infection. Exclusion Criteria: * NONE
Study Plan
Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.Study Objectives
Primary Objectives
Study Centers
These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.This study has 1 location
Medical University Hospital of Graz
Graz, AustriaOpen Medical University Hospital of Graz in Google Maps