Q Fever in France, 1985–2009
Author Information
Author(s): Frankel Diane, Richet Hervé, Renvoisé Aurélie, Raoult Didier
Primary Institution: Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France
Hypothesis
To assess Q fever in France, we analyzed data for 1985–2009 from the French National Reference Center.
Conclusion
Cases and outbreaks of Q fever have increased in France.
Supporting Evidence
- 3,723 patients had acute Q fever.
- Annual incidences of acute Q fever were 2.5/100,000 persons.
- Q fever was diagnosed more often in patients in southeastern France.
Takeaway
Q fever is a disease caused by bacteria from infected animals, and the number of cases in France has been going up over the years.
Methodology
Data from the French National Reference Center was analyzed, including serologic analysis of samples and statistical modeling.
Potential Biases
Potential interlaboratory and interassay variability due to different diagnostic methods.
Limitations
The collection of serum samples was insufficient to accurately determine the incidence of Q fever in France.
Participant Demographics
Of the patients with acute Q fever, 33.8% were female and 66.2% were male, with a mean age of 46.2 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0072
Statistical Significance
p = 0.0072
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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