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Pediatric visit during flu season increased risk for influenza-like illness
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SAN FRANCISCO — Young children who visited a pediatric clinic during influenza season for non-influenza related events were at increased risk for contracting an influenza-like illness, according to study results presented at ID Week 2013.
Researchers evaluated electronic health record data from 73,345 children aged 6 years or younger (mean age, 2.2 years) who visited one of 29 clinics during the September 2012 to April 2013 influenza season.
The patient population made 283,856 total clinic visits during this period. Of the visits, 5,666 (2%) were associated with an influenza-like illness (ILI).
Health care-associated ILI, defined as presenting 1 to 8 days after a non-ILI clinic visit, accounted for 605 (10.7%) of the ILI visits. Researchers calculated a 3.56 (95% CI, 3.23-3.91) incidence rate ratio for contracting health care-associated ILI relative to the risk for developing ILI without visiting a pediatric clinic.
“This estimate is sensitive to case definition, but remains significant,” the researchers wrote. “Ongoing work will establish the validity of an electronic health record-based definition of health care-associated ILI and identify specific factors associated with health care-associated ILI that can be targeted to ensure effective implementation of infection control measures in ambulatory settings.”
For more information:
Feemster K. Abstract #1260. Presented at: ID Week 2013; Oct. 2-6, 2013; San Francisco.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.