title: Usefulness of multiplex PCR methods and respiratory viruses' distribution in children below 15 years old according to age, seasons and clinical units in France: A 3 years retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To date, only influenza and RSV testing are recommended for respiratory viruses' detection in paediatric units. In this study, we described, according to seasons, ages and clinical units, the results obtained in children (<15 years old) by multiplex-PCR (mPCR) tests allowing a quick and wide range detection of all respiratory viruses. These results were also compared with RSV specific detection.
  
  
  METHODS
  All nasopharyngeal mPCR and RSV tests requested by clinicians in our French teaching hospitals group between 2011 and 2014 were retrospectively included. All repeated samples for the same children in the same month were discarded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 381 mPCR tests (344 children) performed, 51.4% were positive. Positivity and viral co-infection rates were higher in the 6-36 months old strata (81% and 25%, p<0.0001 and p = 0.04, respectively). Viral distribution showed strong variations across ages. During specific influenza epidemic periods, only 1/39 (2.5%) mPCR tests were positive for influenza and 19/39 (48.7%) for other viruses. During specific RSV epidemic periods, only 8/46 (17.4%) mPCR tests were positive for RSV and 14/46 (30.4%) for other viruses. 477/1529 (31.2%) of RSV immunochromatography-tests were positive. Among the negatives immunochromatography-test also explored by mPCR, 28/62 (31%) were positive for other respiratory viruses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides a wide description of respiratory viruses' distribution among children in hospital settings using mPCR over 3 years. It emphasizes the number of undiagnosed respiratory viruses according to the current diagnosis practice in France and gives a better picture of respiratory viruses identified in hospital settings by mPCR all over the year in France.
authors.affiliation: IAME, UMR 1137, INSERM, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Laboratoire de Virologie, Hôpital Bichat, AP-HP, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9279-5538
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Visseaux
authors.affiliation: IAME, UMR 1137, INSERM, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Laboratoire de Virologie, Hôpital Bichat, AP-HP, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Collin
authors.affiliation: IAME, UMR 1137, INSERM, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Laboratoire de Virologie, Hôpital Bichat, AP-HP, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Houria
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ichou
authors.affiliation: IAME, UMR 1137, INSERM, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Laboratoire de Virologie, Hôpital Bichat, AP-HP, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Charpentier
authors.affiliation: Service de Néonatologie, Hôpital Louis Mourier, AP-HP, Colombes, France.
authors.forename: Samia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bendhafer
authors.affiliation: Service des Urgences pédiatrique, Hôpital Louis Mourier, AP-HP, Colombes, France.
authors.forename: Madalina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dumitrescu
authors.affiliation: Service de Maternité, Hôpital Bichat, AP-HP, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Lahcene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Allal
authors.affiliation: Service des Urgences pédiatrique, Hôpital Louis Mourier, AP-HP, Colombes, France.
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cojocaru
authors.affiliation: Service de Néonatologie, Hôpital Louis Mourier, AP-HP, Colombes, France.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Desfrère
authors.affiliation: IAME, UMR 1137, INSERM, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Laboratoire de Virologie, Hôpital Bichat, AP-HP, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Descamps
authors.affiliation: Service de Maternité, Hôpital Louis Mourier, AP-HP, Colombes, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mandelbrot
authors.affiliation: IAME, UMR 1137, INSERM, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Laboratoire de Virologie, Hôpital Bichat, AP-HP, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Nadhira
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Houhou-Fidouh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*