title: Absence of human metapneumovirus co-infection in cases of severe respiratory syncytial virus infection.
abstract: It has been suggested that co-infection of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in severe respiratory syncytial (RSV) virus bronchiolitis is very common. To evaluate the epidemiology of hMPV co-infection in children with severe lower respiratory tract infection caused by RSV virus. This was an observational cohort study in which hMPV and RSV viral load was measured by RT-PCR in tracheal specimens from the target population. hMPV could not be detected in any of the 30 mechanically ventilated children with RSV lower respiratory tract infection. Our study suggests that hMPV co-infection is not very common in severe RSV lower respiratory tract infection.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.b.vanwoensel@amc.nl
authors.forename: J B M
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: van Woensel
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Bos
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lutter
authors.forename: J W A
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Rossen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schuurman
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000150:complications*; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index