Upper respiratory tract infections and influenza-like illnesses among healthcare workers: are serological tests useful in monitoring influenza and influenza-like illness?

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk for exposure to upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and influenza-like illnesses (ILIs). The present study aimed to surveil URTIs and ILIs and their impact among the Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases in Wroclaw employees and evaluate their humoral response to influenza.

Material And Methods: Thirty-six HCWs participated in the first season and 32 HCWs in the second season during years of the study.

Impact of European vaccination policies on seasonal influenza vaccination coverage rates: An update seven years later.

Seasonal influenza can have serious morbid consequences and can even result in death, particularly in at-risk populations, including healthcare professionals (HCPs), elderly and those living with a medical risk condition. Although in Europe recommendations exist for annual influenza vaccination in these populations in most countries, the vaccination coverage rate (VCR) is often well below the World Health Organization target of 75% coverage. In our previous survey in 2009 we showed that some elements of national vaccination policies, e.