Volume 13, Number 12—December 2007
Dispatch
Clinical and Epidemiologic Characterization of WU Polyomavirus Infection, St. Louis, Missouri
Binh-Minh Le*, Lee M. Demertzis*, Guang Wu*, Robert J. Tibbets*, Richard Buller*, Max Q. Arens*, Anne M. Gaynor*, Gregory A. Storch*, and David Wang*
Table
Clinical parameters in episodes of WU polyomavirus infection
| Symptoms and physical examination findings (n = 65) | % |
|---|---|
| Symptoms | |
| Cough | 57 |
| Upper respiratory tract symptoms | 55 |
| Rhonchi/crackles/coarse breath sounds | 46 |
| Shortness of breath or increased work of breathing | 42 |
| Wheezing | 40 |
| Rhinorrhea | 38 |
| Retractions | 37 |
| Decreased oral intake | 34 |
| Vomiting | 32 |
| Diarrhea | 18 |
| Stridor | 6 |
| Rash | 6 |
| Apnea | 5 |
| Signs | |
| Tachypnea* (n = 57) | 79 |
| Hypoxia† (n = 55) | 47 |
| Fever‡ (n = 63) | 41 |
| Bandemia (n = 42) | 40 |
| Leukocytosis§ (n = 42) | 31 |
| Leukopenia¶ (n = 42) | 10 |
| Radiographic or computed tomographic findings (n = 50) | |
| Infiltrate or consolidation | 72 |
| Hyperinflation | 14 |
| Peribronchial cuffing | 12 |
| Effusions | 6 |
| Treatment | |
| Antimicrobial agents (n = 65) | 58 |
| Bronchodilators (n = 65) | 38 |
| Steroids (n = 65) | 37 |
| Oxygen (n = 65) | 25 |
| Intubation (n = 63) | 11 |
| Intensive care (n = 63) | 19 |
| Risk factors | |
| Daycare | 32 |
| Sick contacts | 25 |
| Medical history | |
| Asthma (n = 60) | 37 |
*Defined per National Institutes of Health clinical center guidelines.
†SaO2 <95% or PaO2 >80%.
‡Temperature >38°C.
§Leukocyte count >15,000/mm3.
¶Leukocyte count <4,000/mm3.
