Hospital preparedness and clinical description of the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in a Belgian tertiary hospital

We describe hospital preparedness, including costs, and clinical characteristics of the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in adult patients in a Belgian tertiary care centre. A task force coordinated the overall management, including triage and hospitalisation. Between 1 June and 30 November 2009, 521 patients with influenza-like illness were admitted to the emergency ward. We reviewed data from 43 hospitalised patients with confirmed influenza A. Median age was 44 years (range: 21-79), with 84% patients having underlying disease. Eleven needed admission to intensive care unit (ICU) and one patient died. The financial impact of the epidemic was estimated at €75,691, and approximately half of these costs were related to the enhanced infection control practices. The Belgian 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic, as described in a cohort of 43 hospitalised patients, was associated with a relatively high ICU admission rate of 26% and a fairly typical mortality rate of 3%. This retrospective study may help us refine the management of future epidemics.