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New and returning respiratory disease agents, increased antibiotic resistance, and the loss of effective vaccines threaten to increase respiratory illnesses in the military.
Atlanta—Many factors may contribute to increased respiratory illness among U.S. troops, says an article in the upcoming issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases, CDC's peer-reviewed journal, which tracks new and reemerging infections worldwide.
Respiratory infections, the most common cause of acute infectious disease among U.S. adults, are also an important cause of illness among the U.S. military, where they make up approximately 25% to 30% of all hospitalizations for infectious diseases. Because of their crowded living conditions, stressful working environment, and exposure to respiratory pathogens in areas where certain diseases are common, military trainees are at particularly high risk. Before vaccines were introduced, more than 80% of the military trainees experienced respiratory infections and as many as 20% were hospitalized during their 2 to 3 months of initial training.
The authors—navy, army, and air force medical researchers—examine the impact of a number of respiratory pathogens on military personnel. Despite the existence of vaccines and antibiotics to prevent or treat the illnesses these pathogens cause, problems exist. Influenza epidemics in the military have been few since annual flu vaccines were introduced. However, new flu viruses (for which current vaccines are ineffective) have caused a recent navy epidemic and have potential to cause large outbreaks among military personnel. In addition, antibiotics that used to work can no longer be relied on to be effective. Strains of pneumonia-causing bacteria resistant to several antibiotics, for example, are increasing worldwide, and in several studies, they show an increase among military populations. In addition, very effective vaccines for some illnesses caused by adenoviruses are no longer being produced.
Even though limited information on the number of cases is available, it appears that the numbers of respiratory diseases in the military are increasing. The researchers blame new or newly emerging disease agents, growing antibiotic resistance, and the loss of effective vaccines for this increase. As for what needs to be done about the situation, the authors conclude, "Strong, laboratory-based surveillance programs are needed to quickly identify new problems...Surveillance data must then be used to direct the development and evaluation of new interventions, particularly vaccines."
For more information, contact the Public Affairs Officer of the Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, at (619) 553-0662 or PAO@nhrc.navy.mil. Access the full article at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol5no3/gray.htm. All material in Emerging Infectious Diseases is in the public domain and may be used without special permission; proper citation, however, is appreciated.
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