Diversity of influenza-like illness etiology in Polish Armed Forces in influenza epidemic season.

Janusz Kocik; Marcin Niemcewicz; Izabela Winnicka; Aleksander Michalski; Agata Bielawska-Drózd; Marcin Kołodziej; Justyna Joniec; Piotr Cieślik; Grzegorz Graniak; Tomasz Mirski; Jerzy Gaweł; Anna Bielecka-Oder; Leszek Kubiak; Kevin Russell

doi:10.18388/abp.2014_1869

Janusz Kocik Department of Epidemiology, General Karol Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw, Poland.;
Marcin Niemcewicz Biological Threat Identification and Countermeasure Center of General Karol Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Puławy, Poland.;
Izabela Winnicka Department of Epidemiology, General Karol Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw, Poland.;
Aleksander Michalski Biological Threat Identification and Countermeasure Center of General Karol Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Puławy, Poland.;
Agata Bielawska-Drózd Biological Threat Identification and Countermeasure Center of General Karol Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Puławy, Poland.;
Marcin Kołodziej Biological Threat Identification and Countermeasure Center of General Karol Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Puławy, Poland.;
Justyna Joniec Biological Threat Identification and Countermeasure Center of General Karol Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Puławy, Poland.;
Piotr Cieślik Biological Threat Identification and Countermeasure Center of General Karol Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Puławy, Poland.;
Grzegorz Graniak Biological Threat Identification and Countermeasure Center of General Karol Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Puławy, Poland.;
Tomasz Mirski Biological Threat Identification and Countermeasure Center of General Karol Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Puławy, Poland.;
Jerzy Gaweł Biological Threat Identification and Countermeasure Center of General Karol Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Puławy, Poland.;
Anna Bielecka-Oder Department of Epidemiology, General Karol Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw, Poland.;
Leszek Kubiak Department of Epidemiology, General Karol Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw, Poland.;
Kevin Russell United States Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, Silver Spring (AFHSC), Maryland, USA.;

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18388/abp.2014_1869

Abstract

The aim of this study was to conduct an epidemiological and laboratory surveillance of Influenza-Like Illnesses (ILI) in Polish Armed Forces, civilian military personnel and their families in 2011/2012 epidemic season, under the United States Department of Defense-Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System (DoD-GEIS). ILI incidence data were analyzed in relation to age, gender, patient category as well as pathogen patterns. Multiple viral, bacterial and viral-bacterial co-infections were identified. Nose and throat swabs of active duty soldiers in the homeland country and in the NATO peacekeeping forces KFOR (Kosovo Force), as well as members of their families were tested for the presence of viral and bacterial pathogens. From October 2011 to May 2012, 416 specimens from ILI symptoms patients were collected and analyzed for the presence of viral and bacterial pathogens. Among viruses, coronavirus was the most commonly detected. In the case of bacterial infections, the most common pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus.