Clinical and phylogenetic influenza dynamics for the 2019-20 season in the global influenza hospital surveillance network (GIHSN) - Pilot study


Queromes G., Frobert E., Burtseva E., Draganescu A., Koul P. A., Komissarov A., ...More

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL VIROLOGY, vol.152, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 152
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.jcv.2022.105184
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL VIROLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Public Affairs Index, Veterinary Science Database
  • Keywords: Influenza virus, Surveillance, Epidemiology, Hospitalization, Genome sequencing, TREE
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Background: The Global Influenza Hospital Surveillance Network (GIHSN) has operated with the aim of investigating epidemiological and clinical factors related to severe influenza-related hospitalisations. Study design: A common GIHSN core protocol for prospective patient enrolment was implemented. Hospital personnel completed a standardized questionnaire regarding the included patients' medical history, compiled a hospitalisation summary, collected an upper respiratory swab sample for laboratory diagnosis, and genome sequencing was performed for a subset of samples. Patient data were compared according to influenza subtype, lineage, and phylogenetic groups using the Fisher's exact test. Results: From September 2019 to May 2020, 8791 patients aged >= 5 years were included. Among them, 3021 (34.4%) had a laboratory-confirmed influenza diagnosis. Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 dominated the season among all age groups, while the B/Victoria-like lineage accounted for over half of the infections among younger age groups (5-49 years). Sequencing of the hemagglutinin segment was possible for 623 samples and revealed an influenza A and B clade frequency among severe influenza hospitalisations similar to other medically attended surveillance networks, such as the WHO GISRS. No phylogenetic clustering was observed among hemagglutinin substitutions depending on the administration of supplemental oxygen or vaccine failure. Conclusions: The GIHSN confirms its ability as an international hospital-based active surveillance network to provide valuable information on influenza infection dynamics in hospital settings. Increasing the number of participating sites and compiling more complete data, such as genome sequencing, will allow the exploration of associations between viral factors, vaccine protection, and disease severity.