BackgroundThe Global Influenza Hospital Surveillance Network (GIHSN) was developed to improve understanding of severe influenza infection, as represented by hospitalized cases. The GIHSN is composed of coordinating sites, mainly affiliated with health authorities, each of which supervises and compiles data from one to seven hospitals. This report describes the distribution of influenza viruses A(H1N1), A(H3N2), B/Victoria, and B/Yamagata resulting in hospitalization during 2012–2013, the network’s first year.MethodsIn 2012–2013, the GIHSN included 21 hospitals (five in Spain, five in France, four in the Russian Federation, and seven in Turkey). All hospitals used a reference protocol and core questionnaire to collect data, and data were consolidated at five coordinating sites. Influenza infection was confirmed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Hospitalized patients admitted within 7 days of onset of influenza-like illness were included in the analysis.ResultsOf 5034 patients included with polymerase chain reaction results, 1545 (30.7%) were positive for influenza. Influenza A(H1N1), A(H3N2), and both B lineages co-circulated, although distributions varied greatly between coordinating sites and over time. All age groups were affected. A(H1N1) was the most common influenza strain isolated among hospitalized adults 18–64 years of age at four of five coordinating sites, whereas A(H3N2) and B viruses were isolated more often than A(H1N1) in adults ≥65 years of age at all five coordinating sites. A total of 16 deaths and 20 intensive care unit admissions were recorded among patients with influenza.ConclusionsInfluenza strains resulting in hospitalization varied greatly between coordinating sites and over time. These first-year results of the GIHSN are relevant, useful, and timely. Due to its broad regional representativeness and sustainable framework, this growing network should contribute substantially to understanding the epidemiology of influenza, particularly for more severe disease.

BackgroundThe effectiveness of currently licensed vaccines against influenza has not been clearly established, especially among individuals at increased risk for complications from influenza. We used a test-negative approach to estimate influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) against hospitalization with laboratory-confirmed influenza based on data collected from the Global Influenza Hospital Surveillance Network (GIHSN).Methods and FindingsThis was a multi-center, prospective, active surveillance, hospital-based epidemiological study during the 2012–2013 influenza season. Data were collected from hospitals participating in the GIHSN, including five in Spain, five in France, and four in the Russian Federation. Influenza was confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. IVE against hospitalization for laboratory-confirmed influenza was estimated for adult patients targeted for vaccination and who were swabbed within 7 days of symptom onset. The overall adjusted IVE was 33% (95% confidence interval [CI], 11% to 49%). Point estimates of IVE were 23% (95% CI, −26% to 53%) for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 30% (95% CI, −37% to 64%) for influenza A(H3N2), and 43% (95% CI, 17% to 60%) for influenza B/Yamagata. IVE estimates were similar in subjects <65 and ≥65 years of age (35% [95% CI, −15% to 63%] vs.31% [95% CI, 4% to 51%]). Heterogeneity in site-specific IVE estimates was high (I2 = 63.4%) for A(H1N1)pdm09 in patients ≥65 years of age. IVE estimates for influenza B/Yamagata were homogenous (I2 = 0.0%).ConclusionsThese results, which were based on data collected from the GIHSN during the 2012–2013 influenza season, showed that influenza vaccines provided low to moderate protection against hospital admission with laboratory-confirmed influenza in adults targeted for influenza vaccination. In this population, IVE estimates against A(H1N1)pdm09 were sensitive to age group and study site. Influenza vaccination was moderately effective in preventing admissions with influenza B/Yamagata for all sites and age groups.

BackgroundInfluenza is a global public health problem. However, severe influenza only recently has been addressed in routine surveillance.ObjectivesThe Global Influenza Hospital Surveillance Network (GIHSN) was established to study the epidemiology of severe influenza in consecutive seasons in different countries. Our objective is to describe the GIHSN approach and methods.MethodsThe GIHSN uses prospective active surveillance to identify consecutive influenza admissions in permanent residents of well-defined geographic areas in sites around the world. A core common protocol is followed. After consent, data are collected on patient characteristics and clinical outcomes, respiratory swabs are obtained, and the presence of influenza virus and subtype or lineage is ascertained by polymerase chain reaction. Data are collated and analyzed at the GIHSN coordination center.ResultsThe GIHSN has run its activities for two consecutive influenza seasons, 2012–2013 and 2013–2014, and hospitals in Brazil, China, France, Russian Federation, Turkey, and Spain have been involved in one or both seasons. Consistency on the application of the protocol and heterogeneity for the first season have been addressed in two previous publications. During both seasons, 19 677 eligible admissions were recorded; 11 843 (60%) were included and tested, and 2713 (23%) were positive for influenza: 991 (37%) A(H1N1); 807 (30%) A(H3N2); 583 (21%) B/Yamagata; 56 (2%) B/Victoria and 151 (6%) influenza A; and 125 (5%) influenza B were not characterized.ConclusionsThe GIHSN is a platform that provides information on severe influenza worldwide, applying a common core protocol and a consistent case definition.

Background Hepatotoxic reactions are an important identified risk listed in the agomelatine risk management plan. This postauthorisation safety study evaluated the effectiveness of additional risk-minimisation measures (aRMMs) for agomelatine. Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate, among physicians prescribing agomelatine and their patients, liver function monitoring adherence, compliance with contraindications and patients' reasons for non-compliance with liver monitoring. Methods A non-interventional cohort study was conducted among adults initiating agomelatine in routine clinical practice in Denmark, France, Germany and Spain through a retrospective medical record abstraction (MRA) before and after implementation of aRMMs and a cross-sectional patient survey. Results Fifty-four sites contributed data on 437 and 404 patients in the before-and after-RMM periods, and 237 patients completed the survey. No patient had cirrhosis in either study period; 98.2% of patients in the before-and 98.0% in the after-RMM period had no active liver disease reported at initiation or during treatment. Compliance to contraindicated medications was > 99% in both periods. The adherence to the liver-monitoring regimen was similar in both periods (15.1% before RMM and 16.3% after RMM). In the after-RMM period, 25.2% of patients had a liver test before or at treatment initiation; 61.5% had a liver test during treatment. Among patients surveyed who did not have a blood test before treatment initiation or during treatment, the most frequently cited reason was a test ordered but not yet performed. Conclusions The overall adherence to liver-monitoring recommendations remained weakly influenced by aRMMs. However, patients treated with agomelatine are in compliance with relevant contraindications.