Osterweil D, Norman D
Grancell Village, Jewish Homes for the Aging, Reseda, California 91335-3798.
J Am Geriatr Soc. 1990 Jun;38(6):659-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1990.tb01425.x.
As part of an ongoing infection surveillance program, data were collected on an outbreak of respiratory illness affecting 29% of residents in a 231-bed long-term care facility. Viral titers could be collected on 60% of the ill residents and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was established in 14 of the symptomatic patients and was thought to be the probable cause of the outbreak. Compared with previously reported long-term institutional outbreaks of RSV, there were significantly fewer cases of pneumonia (5% vs. 14% to 55%) and deaths (2% vs. 6% to 20%). However, morbidity was substantial in this outbreak, with 46% of patients suffering prolonged malaise and anorexia; the mean duration of symptoms was four weeks. Respiratory syncytial virus may be an important cause of respiratory illness in nursing homes and may be unappreciated if specific diagnostic methods are not employed. The recent availability of rapid diagnostic tests and specific antiviral therapy for RSV warrant further clinical studies to develop management strategies for this infection.
作为一项正在进行的感染监测计划的一部分，收集了关于一家拥有231张床位的长期护理机构中呼吸道疾病暴发的数据，该疾病影响了29%的居民。60%的患病居民能够进行病毒滴度检测，在14名有症状的患者中检测出呼吸道合胞病毒（RSV），被认为是此次暴发的可能原因。与先前报道的长期机构性RSV暴发相比，肺炎病例（5%对14%至55%）和死亡病例（2%对6%至20%）明显更少。然而，此次暴发中的发病率相当高，46%的患者出现长期不适和厌食；症状的平均持续时间为四周。呼吸道合胞病毒可能是疗养院呼吸道疾病的一个重要原因，如果不采用特定的诊断方法，可能未被认识到。近期RSV快速诊断检测和特异性抗病毒治疗的出现，值得进一步开展临床研究以制定针对这种感染的管理策略。
