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- Title
Influenza vaccination of health care workers in long-term-care hospitals reduces the mortality of elderly patients.
- Authors
Potter J; Stott DJ; Roberts MA; Elder AG; O'Donnell B; Knight PV; Carman WF; Potter, J; Stott, D J; Roberts, M A; Elder, A G; O'Donnell, B; Knight, P V; Carman, W F
- Abstract
Vaccination of health care workers (HCWs) is recommended as a strategy for preventing influenza in elderly patients in long-term care. However, there have been no controlled studies to show whether this approach is effective. During the winter of 1994-1995, 1059 patients in 12 geriatric medical long-term-care sites, randomized for vaccination of HCWs, were studied. In hospitals where HCWs were offered vaccination, 653 (61%) of 1078 were vaccinated. Vaccination of HCWs was associated with reductions in total patient mortality from 17% to 10% (odds ratio [OR], 0.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40-0.80) and in influenza-like illness (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.34-0.94). Vaccination of patients was not associated with significant effects on mortality (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.81-1.64). Results of this study support recommendations for vaccination against influenza of HCWs in long-term geriatric care. Vaccination of frail elderly long-term-care patients may not give clinically worthwhile benefits.
- Publication
Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1997, Vol 175, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
0022-1899
- Publication type
journal article