RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 How deadly is seasonal influenza associated pneumonia? The German Competence Network for Community-acquired pneumonia (CAPNETZ)
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP erj00374-2010
DO 10.1183/09031936.00037410
A1 H. von Baum
A1 B. Schweiger
A1 T. Welte
A1 R. Marre
A1 N. Suttorp
A1 M.W.R. Pletz
A1 S. Ewig
A1 the THE CAPNETZ STUDY GROUP
YR 2010
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2010/08/20/09031936.00037410.abstract
AB The emergence of new influenza virus subtypes has rekindled the interest in the clinical course and outcome of patients with influenza-associated pneumonia.Based on prospective data from 5032 patients with CAP included in the German CAP-Competence Network (CAPNETZ), we studied the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcome of patients with influenza-associated CAP and compared these to patients without influenza. Diagnosis relied on a positive PCR for influenza in throat washings.160 patients with influenza-associated CAP were identified (3,2% of total population, 12% of those with defined etiology). 34 patients (21%) with seasonal influenza had a concomitant pathogen (mostly S. pneumoniae). Patients with influenza associated CAP were significantly older, had been less often vaccinated, and had less often preceding antibacterial treatment. Thirty-day mortality was low (4.4%), not different to that of patients with pneumonia caused by bacterial (6.2%) or viral other than influenza pathogen (4%). Patients with influenza plus a bacterial pathogen (mixed influenza-associated pneumonia) had a higher mortality than those with pure influenza associated pneumonia (9% vs 3.2%).Mortality was higher in patients with mixed as compared to pure influenza associated pneumonia. However, we could not observe any excess mortality in patients with influenza associated pneumonia.