Multipathogen infections in hospitalized children with acute respiratory infections.
BACKGROUND
To explore the epidemiologic and clinical features of, and interactions among, multipathogen infections in hospitalized children with acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI). A prospective study of children admitted with ARTI was conducted. Peripheral blood samples were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence to detect respiratory agents including respiratory syncytial virus; adenovirus; influenza virus (Flu) types A and B; parainfluenza virus (PIV) types 1, 2, and 3; chlamydia pneumonia; and mycoplasma pneumonia. A medical history of each child was taken.


RESULTS
Respiratory agents were detected in 164 (51.9%) of 316 children with ARTI. A single agent was identified in 50 (15.8%) children, and multiple agents in 114 (36.1%). Flu A was the most frequently detected agent, followed by Flu B. Coinfection occurred predominantly in August and was more frequent in children between 3 and 6 years of age. A significantly higher proportion of Flu A, Flu B, and PIV 1 was detected in samples with two or more pathogens per sample than in samples with a single pathogen.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that there is a high occurrence of multipathogen infections in children admitted with ARTI and that coinfection is associated with certain pathogens.
Pediatrics Department, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, PR China.
Dan
D
Peng
Dongchi
D
Zhao
Jingtao
J
Liu
Xia
X
Wang
Kun
K
Yang
Hong
H
Xicheng
Yang
Y
Li
Fubing
F
Wang
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000293:Adolescent; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002689:Chlamydia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*