engleski

Molecular detection of fifteen respiratory viruses in hospitalized children – first year results of four-year prospective study from Croatia

Background To determine the viral incidence, and clinical significance of viral detection in hospitalized children with respiratory tract infection (RTI), four-year prospective study was started in March 2017. Material and Methods During one-year period, a total of 239 children aged from one week to 18 years admitted to the Children's hospital Zagreb with RTI of suspected viral aetiology were included. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected and tested for the 15 most common respiratory viruses. Multiplex PCR and cDNA synthesis in one–step reaction, followed by detection of PCR amplicons using microchip electrophoresis was performed. Results Viral aetiology was proved in 75.3 % of the patients. The median age of children with detected respiratory virus was 3.5 years, and male to female ratio 1.6:1. The highest positive detection rate was recorded in the 3 to 5 years old group of children. Ninety-six patients showed symptoms of upper RTI, and 84 had symptoms/signs of lower RTI. A single virus was diagnosed in 67.2 % of the patients, while coinfection with two and three or more viruses in 25 % and 7.8% of the patients, respectively. The most commonly detected virus was rhinovirus (56.1%), followed by adenovirus (24.4%), respiratory syncytial virus A and B (17.7%), coronaviruses 229/NL63 and OC43 (11.1%), influenza viruses A and B (7, 7%), human bocavirus and enteroviruses with equal frequencies (7.2%), parainfluenza viruses 1-4 (6.6%), and metapneumovirus (5.5%). Conclusion Observed incidence of some respiratory viruses was related to the age of the patient, the localization of the infection and the season.

respiratory viruses ; multiplex PCR ; children ; Croatia

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