• Military medicine · Jan 2022

    Respiratory Viral Pathogens Among U.S. Military Personnel at a Medical Treatment Facility in Hawaii From 2014 to 2019.

    • Agnes S Montgomery, Michael B Lustik, Susan A Reichert-Scrivner, Ronald L Woodbury, Milissa U Jones, and Timothy S Horseman.
    • Department of Pediatrics, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI 96859, USA.
    • Mil Med. 2022 Jan 4; 187 (1-2): 182-188.

    IntroductionAcute respiratory diseases account for a substantial number of outpatient visits and hospitalizations among U.S. military personnel, significantly affecting mission readiness and military operations. We conducted a retrospective analysis of respiratory viral pathogen (RVP) samples collected from U.S. military personnel stationed in Hawaii and tested at Tripler Army Medical Center from January 2014 to May 2019 in order to describe the etiology, distribution, and seasonality of RVP exposure in a military population.Materials And MethodsSamples were analyzed by viral culture or multiplex PCR. Distribution of respiratory viruses over time was analyzed as well as subject demographic and encounter data. Presenting signs and symptoms were evaluated with each RVP.ResultsA total of 2,576 military personnel were tested, of which 726 (28.2%) were positive for one or more RVP. Among positive tests, the three most common viral pathogens detected were influenza A (43.0%), rhinovirus (24.5%), and parainfluenza (7.6%). Symptoms were generally mild and most frequently included cough, fever, and body aches.ConclusionOur study evaluated respiratory virus prevalence, seasonality, and association with clinical symptoms for military personnel in an urban tropical setting in Oahu, HI, over a 5-year period. We show that viral prevalence and seasonality in Hawaii are distinct from those of the CONUS. Results contribute to the broader understanding of seasonality, clinical manifestation, and demographics of RVP among active duty military personnel stationed in Hawaii.Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States 2021. This work is written by (a) US Government employee(s) and is in the public domain in the US.

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