engleski

Association of respiratory syncytial virus with lower respiratory tract infections in children

Background and aims: Molecular methods are more sensitive for diagnosis of the main pathogens that cause respiratory tract infections (RTIs) compared with conventional methods. Viral RTIs are the predominant respiratory infections in children, and the leading cause of hospitalization of children, particularly infants younger than one year. Methods: This study used a multiplex PCR assay to detect 12 different respiratory pathogens including influenza A, influenza B, parainfluenza (PIV) types 1, 2 and 3, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) groups A and B, adenovirus, human rhinovirus, human metapneumovirus (MPV) and human coronavirus OC43/HKU1 and 229E/NL63 from respiratory specimens of 62 children treated for possible acute viral RTI. Results: Viruses were identified in 54 (87.1%) of the children. RSV was detected in 29 (46.8%), PIV in 25 (40.3%), rhinovirus in 17 (27.4%), MPV in nine (14.5%), adenovirus in six (9.7%) and coronaviruses in three (4.8%) of the patients. Coinfections with two or more viruses were observed in 27 (50%) patients. Eighteen patients (60%) infected with RSV had a coinfection, while six out of nine patients tested positive for MPV had a coinfection. RSV was significantly associated with lower respiratory tract infections (p<0.01). Presence of a multiple infection was not significantly associated with severity or localization of the infection (p>0.05). Conclusions: Multiplex PCR assay is a new and sensitive method for rapid microbiological diagnosis. Further investigations are needed to broaden our understanding of the significance of multiple viral infections and RSV coinfection in pathogenesis of lower RTI in children.

Respiratory tract infections; diagnosis; multiplex PCR assay

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