Clinical and microbiologic features associated with novel swine-origin influenza A pandemic 2009 (H1N1) virus in children: A prospective cohort study

Abstract

Background: Novel swine-origin influenza A pandemic 2009 (H1N1) virus (S-OIV) infection in the context of other respiratory viruses circulating in winter has not been studied. Methods: Clinical and microbiologic data were collected prospectively from 444 consecutive patients presenting with an influenza-like illness (ILI) to a large pediatric hospital at the beginning of the S-OIV outbreak in Australia. Results: Of 444 patients, 119 had polymerase chain reaction-confirmed S-OIV. Influenza A virus was detected by direct immunofluorescence in only 69 of these. Overall, inadequate respiratory samples were more common with rayon than flocked swabs (P = 0.01). The mean age of patients with S-OIV ..