Articles: pandemics.
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To optimize the vaccination coverage rates in the general population, the status of coverage rates and the reasons for non-vaccination need to be understood. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the changes in influenza vaccination coverage rates in the general population before and after the 2009 influenza pandemic (2008/2009, 2009/2010, and 2010/2011 seasons), and to determine the reasons for non-vaccination. ⋯ Within the general population of Beijing the vaccination coverage rates were relatively low and did not change significantly after the influenza pandemic. The perception of not expecting to contract influenza was the predominant barrier to influenza vaccination. Further measures are needed to improve influenza vaccination coverage.
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Influenza assessment centres (IACs) were deployed to reduce emergency department (ED) volumes during the pH1N1 influenza outbreak in the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) public health region of Ontario, Canada, in the fall of 2009. We present a case study for the deployment of IACs to reduce ED visit volume during both periods of pandemic and seasonal communicable disease outbreak. ⋯ Operating stand-alone influenza IACs may reduce ED volumes during periods of increased demand, as observed during an anticipated pandemic situation.
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Alteration of muscle mass and function is often observed in critically ill patients and its etiology is multifactorial. Besides the effects of acute disease on muscle metabolism, intensive care stay may per se contribute to muscle derangements. Recently, the concept of sarcopenia has been completely revisited, and indicates the loss of muscle mass and function. ⋯ Additionally, sarcopenia may promote functional disability in the long-term after hospital discharge. Limited data are available on the prevalence of sarcopenia at ICU admission. Considering the growing population of older adults with multiple comorbidities, modern intensive care medicine should pay attention to the prevention of ICU-related sarcopenia and also to the routine screening for sarcopenia at ICU admission.