Critically Ill Patients With 2009 Influenza A(H1N1) Infection in Canada.

The article discusses a study which described the characteristics, treatment and outcomes of critically ill patients in Canada with 2009 influenza A(H1N1) infection. The study used 168 critically ill patients with 2009 influenza A(H1N1) infection in various Canadian adult and pediatric intensive care units (ICUs) during the period April 16-August 12, 2009. Primary outcome measures for the study were 28-day and 90-day mortality, while secondary measures included frequency and duration of mechanical ventilation and duration of stay in the ICU. Occurrence of critical illness in 215 patients with community-acquired 2009 influenza A(H1N1) infection was observed in the study. It also concluded that critical illness due to the virus has occurred rapidly after hospital admission.