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Are healthcare personnel at higher risk of seasonal influenza than other working adults?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2019

Brenda L. Coleman Open the ORCID record for Brenda L. Coleman [Opens in a new window] ,
Stefan P. Kuster ,
Kevin Katz ,
Mark Loeb ,
Shelly A. McNeil ,
Matthew P. Muller ,
Jeff Powis ,
Andrew Simor ,
Kristy K. L. Coleman  and
Todd Hatchette
...Show all authors
Brenda L. Coleman*
Affiliation:
Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Stefan P. Kuster
Affiliation:
Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Universitätsspital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
Kevin Katz
Affiliation:
North York General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Mark Loeb
Affiliation:
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Shelly A. McNeil
Affiliation:
QEII Hospital, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Matthew P. Muller
Affiliation:
University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada St Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Jeff Powis
Affiliation:
Toronto East General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Andrew Simor
Affiliation:
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Kristy K. L. Coleman
Affiliation:
Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Parkwood Institute, St Joseph’s Healthcare Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
Todd Hatchette
Affiliation:
Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Allison McGeer
Affiliation:
Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
*
Author for correspondence: Brenda L. Coleman, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Background: Adults are at risk of being exposed to influenza from many sources. Healthcare personnel (HCP) have the additional risk of being exposed to ill patients.

Objective:

To determine whether HCP were at higher risk than adults working in nonhealthcare roles (non-HCP).

Design:

Prospective cohort study.

Setting:

Acute-care hospitals and other businesses in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Methods:

Adults aged 18–69 years were enrolled for 1 or more of the 2010/2011, 2011/2012, and 2012/2013 influenza seasons. Swabs collected during acute respiratory illnesses were tested for influenza and pre- and postseason blood samples were tested for influenza-specific immune response.

Results:

The adjusted odds of influenza were similar for HCP and non-HCP (odds ratio [OR], 1.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63–2.63). Older adults and those vaccinated against influenza had lower odds, and those who shared their workspace and who used corrective eyewear had higher odds of influenza.

Conclusions:

HCP and other working adults are at similar risk of influenza infection.

Type
Original Article
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 41 , Issue 3 , March 2020 , pp. 267 - 272
Copyright
© 2019 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved.

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