[Detection of respiratory syncytial and adenovirus in nasopharyngeal aspirates: comparison of cellular cultures and immunofluorescence].

Respiratory syncytial and adenovirus are 2 of the most important pathogens for respiratory infection in infancy. We compared the results of cellular cultures and immunofluorescence in the detection of these agents in nasopharyngeal exudates from hospitalized infants. Evidence for respiratory syncytial virus was searched in 776 samples. Immunofluorescence was much more sensitive, detecting 303 positive results, compared to only 142 for cell culture. Compared to immunofluorescence, the sensitivity and specificity of cell culture was 44% and 98%, respectively. Adenoviruses were investigated in 498 samples by both techniques. 88 positive results were identified by cell culture and only 30 by immunofluorescence. The sensitivity of immunofluorescence, compared to cell culture, was 31%, with a specificity of 99%. Thus, immunofluorescence is the technique of choice for detection of respiratory syncytial virus, while cell culture is preferable for adenovirus.