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Volume 12, Number 11—November 2006
Dispatch

Avian Influenza H5N1 Screening of Intensive Care Unit Patients with Community-acquired Pneumonia

Anucha Apisarnthanarak*Comments to Author , Pilaipan Puthavathana†, Rungrueng Kitphati‡, Pranee Thavatsupha‡, Malinee Chittaganpitch‡, Prasert Auewarakul†, and Linda M. Mundy§
Author affiliations: *Thammasart University Hospital, Pratumthani, Thailand; †Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand; ‡Thai National Institute of Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand; §Saint Louis University School of Public Health, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA

Main Article

Table 2

Cost estimates for routine avian influenza (H5N1) surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, and infection control measures in the ICU, February 1, 2005 – January 31, 2006*

Category No. measures Estimated cost (US$) Total (US$)
Cost associated with H5N1 routine screening
Diagnostic testing
RT-PCR 115 $25 × 115 2,875
Viral culture 115 $30 × 115 3,450
Paired acute- and convalescent-phase serology for anti-H5 antibody† 42 $25 × 42 1,050
Isolation for probable H5N1 (n = 18)‡
Gowns/d 1,800 $1/gown × 1,800 × 9 d 16,200
Gloves/d 1,800 $0.05/pair × 1,800 × 9 d 810
Surgical masks/d 1,800 $0.25/mask × 1,800 × 9 d 4,050
Staff time (min/d) to put on/take off gloves, gowns, and mask 1,800 $1.26/hour × 1,800 2,268
Cost of universal influenza vaccination
ICU HCWs 30 $10 × 30 300
HCWs, entire hospital 980 $10 × 980 9,800

*ICU, intensive care unit; RT-PCR, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; HCWs, healthcare workers. †All 115 patients had acute phase serum samples tested for anti-H5 antibody; 42 (37%) were <60 years old and survived >14 days after hospitalization. ‡Estimated 1 min to put on and take off the protection gear with 100 encounters per day (15).

*ICU, intensive care unit; RT-PCR, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; HCWs, healthcare workers. †All 115 patients had acute phase serum samples tested for anti-H5 antibody; 42 (37%) were <60 years old and survived >14 days after hospitalization. ‡Estimated 1 min to put on and take off the protection gear with 100 encounters per day (15).

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