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H1N1 infection rates highest among ED staff

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 19, 2010

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During the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, health professionals working in emergency departments had the highest infection rate among hospital employees, according to a study in the March Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness.

The study analyzed the absentee records of health professionals who worked at five New York hospitals from April through June 2009 (link).

Researchers found 123 laboratory-confirmed cases of H1N1 among the hospital employees. The highest infection rate of 29% was among staff in the adult emergency medicine department. The pediatric emergency medicine department had an infection rate of 25%. Health professionals working in ambulatory care and intensive care had the lowest infection rates of 1.6% and 4.1%, respectively.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/04/19/prbf0419.htm.

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