2009 H1N1 fatalities: the New Mexico experience.

Histopathologic features of New Mexico 2009 H1N1 fatalities have not been representative of those reported nationwide. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of all New Mexico 2009 pandemic influenza A (pH1N1) fatalities (n = 50). In cases in which autopsy was performed (n = 12), histologic sections and culture results were examined.

Importance of employee vaccination against influenza in preventing cases in long-term care facilities.

Objective: Employees of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) who have contact with residents should be vaccinated against influenza annually to reduce influenza incidence among residents. This investigation estimated the magnitude of the benefit of this recommendation.

Methods: The New Mexico Department of Health implemented active surveillance in all of its 75 LTCFs during influenza seasons 2006-2007 and 2007-2008.

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009-associated deaths detected by unexplained death and medical examiner surveillance.

During the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 outbreak, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Oregon used several surveillance methods to detect associated deaths. Surveillance using unexplained death and medical examiner data allowed for detection of 34 (18%) pandemic (H1N1) 2009-associated deaths that were not detected by hospital-based surveillance.

Investigation of a group A streptococcal outbreak among residents of a long-term acute care hospital.

Background: In January 2008, a long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) in New Mexico reported a cluster of severe group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections.

Methods: We defined a case as illness in a patient in the LTACH from 1 October 2007 through 3 February 2008 from whom GAS was isolated from a usually sterile site or with illness consistent with GAS infection and GAS isolated from a nonsterile site. To identify carriers, we swabbed the oropharynx and skin lesions of patients and staff.

Pandemic 2009 influenza A(H1N1) virus illness among pregnant women in the United States.

Context: Early data on pandemic 2009 influenza A(H1N1) suggest pregnant women are at increased risk of hospitalization and death.

Objective: To describe the severity of 2009 influenza A(H1N1) illness and the association with early antiviral treatment among pregnant women in the United States.

Design, Setting, And Patients: Surveillance of 2009 influenza A(H1N1) in pregnant women reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with symptom onset from April through December 2009.