Articles: pandemics.
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Historically, Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs) have been more severely affected by influenza pandemics than any other part of the world. We herein describe the emergence and epidemiologic characteristics of pandemic influenza H1N1 in PICTs from 2009 to 2010. ⋯ Pandemic influenza spread rapidly throughout the Pacific despite enormous distances and relative isolation. Tokelau and Pitcairn may be the only jurisdictions to have remained pandemic-free. Despite being well-prepared, Pacific island countries and territories experienced significant morbidity and mortality, consistent with other indigenous and low-resource settings.For the first time, regional influenza-like-illness surveillance was conducted in the Pacific, allowing health authorities to monitor the pandemic's spread and severity in real-time.Future regional outbreak responses will likely benefit from the lessons learned during this outbreak.
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Renal complications of influenza A virus infections are uncommon but can contribute to a deterioration in the patient's condition, which include acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill patients, rhabdomyolysis, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), acute glomerulonephritis (AGN), disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), Goodpasture's syndrome, and acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN). The clinical characteristics of AKI in critically ill patients with pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 virus (A(H1N1)pdm09) infection are similar to uninfected patients. Underlying conditions associated with AKI include older age, diabetes mellitus, obesity, pregnancy, history of asthma, and chronic kidney disease. ⋯ HUS is associated with A(H1N1)pdm09 as follows: Streptococcus pneumoniae-associated HUS following A(H1N1)pdm09 infection, HUS triggered by A(H1N1)pdm09 in patients with genetic complement dysregulation, and HUS associated with A(H1N1)pdm09 without known underlying disorder. AGN, Goodpasture's syndrome, and acute TIN are extremely rare complications of influenza A virus infection. Although the pathogenesis underlying renal injuries due to influenza A virus has not been delineated, some hypotheses have been advanced, including ATN due to renal hypoperfusion or rhabdomyolysis, glomerular microthrombosis due to DIC, direct viral injury to the kidney, and an altered immune system with systemic mononuclear cell activation following influenza A virus infections.
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Multicenter Study
Predictors of severe H1N1 infection in children presenting within Pediatric Emergency Research Networks (PERN): retrospective case-control study.
To identify historical and clinical findings at emergency department presentation associated with severe H1N1 outcome in children presenting with influenza-like illness. ⋯ These independent risk factors may alert clinicians to children at risk of severe outcomes when presenting with influenza-like illness during future pandemics.
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Cases of emerging infectious diseases, including H5N1 influenza, H7N9 influenza, and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, have been reported in recent years, and the threat of pandemic outbreaks persists. In Japan, primary care is the frontline against emerging infectious diseases in communities. Although the importance of pandemic preparedness in primary care has been highlighted previously, few studies have thus far investigated the preparedness among primary care practices (PCPs) or differences in the preparedness of different institutional settings. We examined PCP preparedness and response to the 2009 influenza pandemic in Japan, and explored the role of a pandemic preparedness plan during the pandemic. ⋯ With regard to PPE availability, PCPs (especially clinic-based PCPs) were not adequately prepared for the influenza pandemic. Awareness of the national pandemic preparedness plan is likely to promote prefecture-wide implementation of BCPs and surveillance activity.