Epidemiology of viral respiratory infections in Australian working-age adults (20–64 years): 2010–2013

• Published in: Epidemiology and infection Vol. 146; no. 5; pp. 619 - 626
• Main Authors: Varghese, B. M., Dent, E., Chilver, M., Cameron, S., Stocks, N. P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.04.2018
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Age; Antibiotics; Australia - epidemiology; Cough; Epidemiology; Fatigue; Female; Fever; Humans; Illnesses; Infections; Infectious diseases; Influenza; Influenza A; Influenza B; Male; Middle Aged; Morbidity; Original Paper; Orthomyxoviridae; Pandemics; Population; Public health; Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Infection; Respiratory syncytial virus; Respiratory tract infection; Respiratory Tract Infections - epidemiology; Respiratory Tract Infections - virology; Rhinovirus; Seasons; Software; Virus Diseases - epidemiology; Virus Diseases - virology; Viruses; Viruses - classification; Viruses - isolation & purification; Young Adult; Australia; Northern Hemisphere; France; United States > US; South Australia Australia; surveillance; Influenza; respiratory infections; virus infection
• ISSN: 0950-2688; 1469-4409
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268818000286

Acute respiratory infections cause significant morbidity and mortality accounting for 5.8 million deaths worldwide. In Australia, influenza-like illness (ILI), defined as cough, fever and fatigue is a common presentation in general practice and results in reduced productivity and lost working days. Little is known about the epidemiology of ILI in working-age adults. Using data from the ASPREN influenza surveillance network in Australia (2010–2013) we found that working-age adults made up 45.2% of all ILI notifications with 55% of samples positive for at least one respiratory virus. Viruses most commonly detected in our study included influenza A (20.6%), rhinovirus (18.6%), influenza B (6.2%), human meta-pneumovirus (3.4%), respiratory syncytial virus (3.1%), para-influenza virus (2.6%) and adenovirus (1.3%). We also demonstrated that influenza A is the predominant virus that increases ILI (by 1.2% per month for every positive influenza A case) in working-age adults during autumn–winter months while other viruses are active throughout the year. Understanding the epidemiology of viral respiratory infections through a year will help clinicians make informed decisions about testing, antibiotic and antiviral prescribing and when the beginning of the ‘flu season’ can be more confidently predicted.