2009 H1N1 influenza infection in Korean healthcare personnel

• Published in: European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases Vol. 30; no. 10; pp. 1201 - 1206
• Main Authors: Yeom, J. S., Lee, J.-H., Bae, I.-G., Oh, W.-S., Moon, C.-S., Park, K.-H., Kim, E.-S., Kwak, Y. G., Lee, C.-S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.10.2011; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Employees; Female; Health care; Health Personnel; Hospitals; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunization; Incidence; Infections; Infectious diseases; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype - isolation & purification; Influenza virus; Influenza, Human - epidemiology; Influenza, Human - transmission; Influenza, Human - virology; Internal Medicine; Male; Masks; Masks - statistics & numerical data; Medical Microbiology; Medical personnel; Medical sciences; Medical supplies; Nurses; Occupational Exposure - prevention & control; Pandemics; Personal protective equipment; Physicians; Prevalence; Preventive medicine; Protective equipment; Questionnaires; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Seasons; Surveys and Questionnaires; Swine flu; Variance analysis; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the respiratory system and ent viral diseases; South Korea; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome; Influenza Season; Influenza; Attack Rate; H1N1 Virus; Infection; Health care staff; Microbiology; Respiratory disease; H1N1 influenza; Viral disease
• DOI: 10.1007/s10096-011-1213-2
• ISSN: 0934-9723; 1435-4373

Healthcare personnel (HCP) can acquire influenza and transmit it to patients and other hospital staff. The aim of this study was to evaluate the attack rate of HCP by the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus during the 2009 pandemic influenza season in Korea. HCP infected with H1N1 virus were asked to fill out a questionnaire, which included job type, method of diagnosis, facility type, history of contact with patients infected by H1N1 virus, vaccination status, and use of personal protective equipment. A total of 328 HCP (female 68.6%, 225/328) were infected with H1N1 virus at the nine study centers. The highest attack rate was in physicians, followed by nurses and nurses’ aides. Transmission occurred primarily after contact with outpatients (27.8%), followed by contact with inpatients (21.6%). Most (77.3%) of the infected HCP never used an N95 mask during contact with patients. Surgical masks were always used by 29.4% of the subjects and usually or intermittent used by 46.9%. The peak incidence of the H1N1 infection among HCP preceded that among the general population. Among HCPs, physicians, nurses, and nurses’ aides were at the greatest risk of H1N1 infection. HCP should be more vigilant and protect themselves with appropriate personal protective equipment during the influenza season.