Past
Issue
Vol. 8, No. 2
February 2002 |
|
|
EID
Home | Ahead of Print | Past
Issues | EID Search | Contact
Us | Announcements | Suggested
Citation
Research
Surveillance for Unexplained Deaths
and Critical Illnesses Due to Possibly Infectious Causes, United States, 1995-1998
Appendix 1: Case Definition, Surveillance for Unexplained Deaths and Critical
Illnesses Due to Possibly Infectious Causes, United States, 1995-1998
Previously Healthy
Patients are considered previously healthy who had no known preexisting chronic
medical condition before the onset of the illness resulting in hospitalization
or death, including malignancy; HIV infection; chronic cardiac; pulmonary, renal,
hepatic, or rheumatologic disease; or diabetes mellitus. These patients have
no history of immunosuppressive therapy, trauma thought to be related to illness,
evidence of toxic ingestion or exposure, or nosocomial infection.
Reasons for Exclusion
- A history of a malignancy other than nonmelanoma skin cancer
- HIV infection identified during hospitalization, previously or after discharge
- History of physician-confirmed myocardial infarction, angina with known
coronary artery disease, or congestive heart failure
- Any history of hospital admission for asthma or other pulmonary diseases
except for uncomplicated pneumonia
- History of dialysis or chronically elevated blood urea nitrogen and creatinine
- Biopsy-proven liver disease of any kind or chronic coagulopathy or chronic
Hepatitis B or C virus infection as a result of hepatic
insufficiency
- Physician-confirmed rheumatologic conditions requiring chronic or intermittent
medical therapy with oral steroids or other immunosuppressive drugs
- Any known physician-confirmed diabetes mellitus previously or during hospitalization
- Development of hallmarks of infection >48 hours after hospital admission
- Any mention of a history of excessive alcohol use, alcohol abuse, or alcoholism
is a reason for exclusion.(e.g., delirium tremens, withdrawal seizures, alcoholic
neuropathy, persistent liver function test abnormalities, gastrointestinal
bleeding, coagulopathy, or hypoalbuminemia).
- Any mention of injecting drug use
- Any history of neurologic disease, including seizures,
- Obesity, defined as body mass index 30 or "obese" noted in medical chart
- Physician-confirmed diagnosis of anorexia
Not Reasons for Exclusion
- Hypertension or a history of hypertension
- Any history of inhaler use
- Pyelonephritis or nephrolithiasis or a history of either of these conditions
in the absence of a chronically elevated blood urea nitrogen and creatinine
- History of hepatitis
- Pregnancy
|
