1. Detection of respiratory viruses in adults with respiratory tract infection using a multiplex PCR assay at a tertiary center
- Author
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Cheng-Chun Tai, Cheng-Hsien Tsai, Yu-Han Huang, Hsin-Pai Chen, Yu-Jiun Chan, and Chia-Lin Lee
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Microbiology (medical) ,Respiratory tract infection ,viruses ,030106 microbiology ,Taiwan ,Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections ,Respiratory Viruses ,Microbiology ,Article ,Virus ,Tertiary Care Centers ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Human metapneumovirus ,Multiplex polymerase chain reaction ,medicine ,Humans ,Immunology and Allergy ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Respiratory system ,Respiratory Tract Infections ,General Immunology and Microbiology ,Respiratory tract infections ,biology ,Viral Epidemiology ,business.industry ,Respiratory infection ,General Medicine ,Multiplex PCR ,Orthomyxoviridae ,biology.organism_classification ,Virology ,QR1-502 ,Parainfluenza Virus 1, Human ,Infectious Diseases ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human ,Metapneumovirus ,Seasons ,business ,Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ,Respiratory tract - Abstract
Background Respiratory viruses (RVs) are among the most common pathogens for both upper and lower respiratory tract infections (RTIs). However, the viral epidemiology of RV-associated RTIs in adults has long been under-recognized. Through a sensitive molecular assay, it would be possible to have a better understanding of the epidemiology of RV-associated RTIs. Material and methods Respiratory tract (RT) specimens from adults hospitalized due to RTIs were tested for RVs, using the multiplex PCR-based Luminex xTAG® Respiratory Viral Panel assay. A total of nineteen RVs, including influenza viruses and non-influenza respiratory viruses (NIRVs) were detected. Positive rates were compared using a chi-square test. Results A total of 2292 samples from adult patients hospitalized with RTIs were screened for RVs. The overall positive rate was 22%, with 17.8% samples positive for at least one NIRV. NIRVs had a higher positive rate in non-winter seasons. As many as 12.7% (46/363) of the samples collected through broncho-alveolar lavage and 20.5% (176/859) of the samples collected in ICUs were positive for RVs. Distribution of corona virus (CoV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and parainfluenza virus (PIV) demonstrated seasonal variation. Also, temperature was associated with the positive rates of specific viruses, including CoV, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), hMPV and PIV. Conclusion Respiratory viruses, notably NIRVs, were frequently detected in adults hospitalized with RTIs. Several RVs were detected with distinctive seasonal variations. A substantial number of RVs were identified in lower RT specimens or from patients admitted to ICU, highlighting their important role in causing severe respiratory infection.
- Published
- 2021