Respiratory tract infections in travelers: A review of the GeoSentinel surveillance network

Abstract

Respiratory tract infections are common in travelers, and improving our knowledge of risk factors associated with specific types of respiratory infections should enable implementation of better preventive strategies. Data collected by the GeoSentinel surveillance network were analyzed, and the most significant predictors for developing specific categories of respiratory infections while abroad were age, sex, season of travel, trip duration, and reason for travel. In particular, influenza was associated with travel to the Northern Hemisphere during the period of December through February, travel involving visits to friends or relatives, and trip duration of >30 days. Lower respiratory tract i..