An outbreak of human metapneumovirus in a rehabilitation center for alcoholics in Tampere, Finland

Abstract

Reports of respiratory tract infections in a rehabilitation center for alcoholics triggered the epidemiological investigations in Tampere, Finland. Twenty-nine out of 40 residents (attack rate 73%) and four members of staff fulfilled the case criteria: cough; worsening of dyspnea; or rhinitis with or without fever. Ten cases were hospitalized, one needed treatment in the intensive care unit. All cases recovered. Serum hMPV antibody titer was high (10 240 or more) in 20 (69%) of the 29 tested cases and the difference was significant when compared with the titer measured from the voluntary laboratory personnel (n = 14, p < 0.001). The titers were rising in three out of the five cases from whom coupled samples could be obtained. Rt-PCR for hMPV was positive in three out of the eight tested cases. No other causative agent for the outbreak was detected. The outcome of hMPV infection among institutionalized smoking alcoholics was good with no mortality.

Keywords::

• Alcoholic
• healthcare-associated infections
• human metapneumovirus
• outbreak
• smoking

Acknowledgements

The staff of the rehabilitation center are warmly thanked for their valuable help and cooperation during the investigation of the outbreak.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors have no funding to report. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.