Mortality Attributable to 9 Common Infections: Significant Effect of Influenza A, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Influenza B, Norovirus, and Parainfluenza in Elderly Persons

Background. Because there may be substantial hidden mortality caused by common seasonal pathogens, we estimated the number of deaths in elderly persons attributable to viruses and bacteria for which robust weekly laboratory surveillance data were available. Methods. On weekly time series (1999-2007) we used regression models to associate total death counts in individuals aged 65-74, 75-84, and ≥85 years (a population of 2.5 million) with pathogen circulation—influenza A (season-specific), influenza B, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza, enterovirus, rotavirus, norovirus, Campylobacter, and Salmonella — adjusted for extreme outdoor temperatures. Results. Influenza A and RSV were significantly (P