Mortality following isolation of various respiratory viruses in nursing home residents

OBJECTIVE: To compare mortality following isolation of influenza A to morta lity following isolation of other respiratory viruses in a nursing home. SETTING: The Wisconsin Veterans Home, a 688-bed skilled nursing facility fo r veterans and their spouses. PARTICIPANTS: All residents with respiratory viral isolates obtained betwee n 1988 and 1999. DESIGN: Thirty-day mortality was determined following each culture-proven i llness. RESULTS: Thirty-day mortality following isolation of viral respirat ory pathogens was 4.7% (15/322) for influenza A; 5.4% (7/129) for influenza B; 6.1% (3/49) for parainfluenza type 1; 0% (0/26) for parainfluenza types 2, 3, and 4; 0% (0/26) for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV); and 1.6% (1/ 61) for rhinovirus. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality following isolation of certain other respiratory vir uses may be comparable to that following influenza A (although influenza A mortality might be higher without vaccination and antiviral agents). The us e of uniform secretion precautions for all viral respiratory illness deserv es consideration in nursing homes (Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1999;20:81 2-815).