Management of hospitalized influenza A patients during the season 2018/19: Comparison of three medical departments and the effect on outcome and antibiotic usage

Summary Background Diagnosis and treatment of influenza patients are often provided across several medical specialties. We compared patient outcomes at an infectious diseases (ID), a rheumatology (Rheu) and a pulmonology (Pul) department. Material and methods In this prospective observational multicenter study we included all influenza positive adults who were hospitalized and treated at flu isolation wards in three hospitals in Vienna during the season 2018/2019. Results A total of 490 patients (49% female) with a median age of 73 years (interquartile range [IQR] 61–82) were included. No differences regarding age, sex and most underlying diseases were present at admission. Frequencies of the most common complications differed: acute kidney failure (ID 12.7%, Rheu 21.2%, Pulm 37.1%, p