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Long‐Term Care Facilities: A Cornucopia of Viral Pathogens
Author(s) -
Falsey Ann R.,
Dallal Gerard E.,
Formica Maria A.,
Andolina Gloria G.,
Hamer Davidson H.,
Leka Lynette L.,
Meydani Simin Nikbin
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2008.01775.x
Subject(s) - medicine , human metapneumovirus , rhinovirus , respiratory tract infections , respiratory system , coronavirus , pneumonia , bronchitis , virology , serology , virus , titer , immunology , viral shedding , serotype , antibody , covid-19 , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty)
OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency and types of respiratory viruses circulating in Boston long‐term care facilities (LTCFs) during a 3‐year period. DESIGN: Observational. SETTING: Thirty‐three Boston‐area LTCFs over a 3‐year period. PARTICIPANTS: Residents of long‐term care who had previously participated in a trial of vitamin E supplementation and had paired serum samples available for viral analysis. MEASUREMENTS: Viral antibody titers to eight respiratory viruses (influenza A and B, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza virus serotype three (PIV‐3), PIV‐2, human metapneumovirus (hMPV), and coronaviruses 229E and OC43) were measured using enzyme immunoassay at baseline and 53 weeks. Infection was defined as a more than quadrupling of viral titers. Clinical data on respiratory illnesses were collected throughout the study period. RESULTS: A total of 617 persons were enrolled in the trial. Of these, 382 (62%) had sera available for viral analysis. A total of 204 viral infections were documented in 157 subjects. Serological responses to all eight viruses were documented, with hMPV (12.8%) and coronavirus 229E (10.5%) being the most common and PIV‐2 (2.4%) the least common. The occurrence of bronchitis ( P =.007), pneumonia ( P =.02), and any lower respiratory tract infection ( P =.002) was significantly associated with having a viral diagnosis. CONCLUSION: A wide range of respiratory viruses cocirculates in LTCFs and contributes to respiratory illness morbidity in these populations.