You are contacted by a rural physician seeking advice regarding a 35-year-old female who is 28/40 pregnant and has been intubated for acute respiratory failure with a possible diagnosis of H1N1 influenza A.
Briefly discuss how you would confirm the diagnosis and outline the priorities regarding the immediate management of this case.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of H1N1 is taken against background of pre-test probability (season, signs and symptoms of flu-like illness, possible exposure, other confirmed cases) and the sensitivity and specificity of laboratory test.
rRT-PCR is most sensitive and specific.
Rapid antigen tests and Immunofluorescent antibody testing are not specific for different flu A subtypes
Serology useful for identifying patients post infection
Confirmation of the diagnosis of H1N1 influenza A (CDC case definition) requires influenza-like illness with laboratory-confirmed H1N1 influenza A virus detection by real-time reverse transcriptase PCR or culture.
Treat as positive in interim if test results uncertain
Management Priorities
Arrange transfer to appropriate centre with combined ICU/obstetric care
Isolation, negative pressure room, contact precautions
Antiviral treatment: antiviral oseltamivir – important not to delay treatment in pregnancy
Obstetric input and counseling patient and partner.
Pregnancy increases the likelihood of the development of severe disease.
Early delivery likely either spontaneous or therapeutic so commence etamethasone/dexamethasone for foetal lung maturation
Supportive management: as indicated mechanical ventilation using lung protective strategies, vasopressor support if hypotensive etc.
This question comes in the wake of the H1N1 pandemic, and may never appear again. Writing in mid-2015, one might expect that we are more likely to get an Ebola question. These pandemic questions usually appear about 18 months after the end of the outbreak, to lull the candidates into a false sense of security.
In summary:
Diagnosis of H1N1 influenza
Management of H1N1 influenza
Vasoo, Shawn, Jane Stevens, and Kamaljit Singh. "Rapid antigen tests for diagnosis of pandemic (Swine) influenza A/H1N1." Clinical infectious diseases49.7 (2009): 1090-1093.
Balish, A., et al. "Evaluation of rapid influenza diagnostic tests for detection of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus-United States, 2009." Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 58.30 (2009): 826-829.
Gerrard, John, et al. "Clinical diagnostic criteria for isolating patients admitted to hospital with suspected pandemic influenza." The lancet 374.9702 (2009): 1673.
Dunstan, H. J., et al. "Pregnancy outcome following maternal use of zanamivir or oseltamivir during the 2009 influenza A/H1N1 pandemic: a national prospective surveillance study." BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology 121.7 (2014): 901-906.
Jefferson T, Jones M, Doshi P, Spencer EA, Onakpoya I, Heneghan CJ. Oseltamivir for influenza in adults and children: systematic review of clinical study reports and summary of regulatory comments. BMJ 2014; 348: g2545