title: Prevalence of upper respiratory tract infections at a tertiary care hospital in the city of São Paulo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of pathogens in the upper respiratory tract according to age at a tertiary care hospital in the city of São Paulo.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 6,144 biological material tests from upper respiratory airways were analyzed: 740 bacterial cultures, 726 virus screenings and 4,678 rapid tests for S. pyogenes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most frequently found etiological agent was respiratory syncytial virus (29.6%; 215/726). The main agents detected per age groups were: respiratory syncytial virus (25.34%; 184/726) in patients aged 28 days-3 years; S. pyogenes (9.5%; 70/740) in 3-12 year-old children; influenza virus (8.8%; 64/726) in adults (18-59 years).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The etiologic agents of upper respiratory infections vary according to age and imply diverse clinical and therapeutic management.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP, BR.
authors.forename: Amilton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mouro
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein - HIAE, São Paulo, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Luci Black Tabacow
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Hidal
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein - HIAE, São Paulo, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Marines Dalla Valle
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein - HIAE, São Paulo, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Jacyr
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pasternark