Nosocomial respiratory infections in a rural zambian hospital

Gideon Loevinsohn, Justin Hardick, Thomas Mehoke, Pamela Sinywimaanzi, Mutinta Hamahuwa, Katherine Z.J. Fenstermacher, Kathryn Shaw-Saliba, Peter Thielen, Jared Evans, Kenneth Bowden, Kristina Zudock, Lauren M. Sauer, Mwaka Monze, Charlotte A. Gaydos, Richard E. Rothman, Andrew Pekosz, Philip E Thuma, Catherine G. Sutcliffe

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The burden of nosocomial respiratory infections in rural southern Africa is poorly understood. We established a surveillance program at a rural Zambian hospital to detect influenza-like illness (ILI) and respiratory infections among hospitalized patients and a cohort of healthcare workers (HCWs). Nasopharyngeal specimens from symptomatic patients and HCWs underwent broadly multiplexed molecular testing to detect viruses and atypical bacteria. During 1 year of surveillance, 15 patients (1.7% of admissions) developed ILI more than 48 hours after admission. Among 44 HCWs, 19 (43%) experienced at least one ILI episode, with a total of 31 ILI episodes detected. Respiratory viruses were detected in 45% of patient and 55% of HCW specimens. The cumulative incidence of influenza infection among HCWs over 1 year was 9%. Overall, respiratory viruses were commonly found among patients and HCWs in a rural Zambian hospital with limited infection control infrastructure.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)818-821
Number of pages4
JournalAmerican Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume105
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology

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