Objective: To compare mortality following isolation of influenza A to mortality following isolation of other respiratory viruses in a nursing home.
Setting: The Wisconsin Veterans Home, a 688-bed skilled nursing facility for veterans and their spouses.
Participants: All residents with respiratory viral isolates obtained between 1988 and 1999.
Design: Thirty-day mortality was determined following each culture-proven illness.
Results: Thirty-day mortality following isolation of viral respiratory pathogens was 4.7% (15/322) for influenza A; 5.4% (7/129) for influenza B; 6.1% (3/49) for parainfluenza type 1; 0% (0/26) for parainfluenza types 2, 3, and 4; 0% (0/26) for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV); and 1.6% (1/61) for rhinovirus.
Conclusions: Mortality following isolation of certain other respiratory viruses may be comparable to that following influenza A (although influenza A mortality might be higher without vaccination and antiviral agents). The use of uniform secretion precautions for all viral respiratory illness deserves consideration in nursing homes.