Seasonality of respiratory viruses and bacterial pathogens.

BACKGROUND

Seasonal variation has been observed for various bacterial and viral infections. We aimed to further study seasonality of respiratory viruses and bacterial pathogens in relation to antibiotic use, as well as meteorological parameters.

METHODS

An ecologic study of antibiotic exposure, meteorological parameters, detection of respiratory viruses  and clinical isolates of , Methicillin-resistant (MRSA), , and and (grouped together as gram-negative bacteria; GNB) in Rhode Island from 2012 to 2016.

RESULTS

Peak detection of occurred 3 months after the peak in antibiotic prescriptions filled (OR = 1.24, 95% CI, 1.07-1.43;  = 0.006). Peak MRSA detection was noted 7 months after the peak in antibiotic prescriptions filled (OR = 1.69, 95% CI, 1.21-2.35;  = 0.003) and 10 months after the peak in respiratory virus detection (OR = 1.04, 95% CI, 1.01-1.06;  = 0.003). Peak GNB detection was noted 2 months after the peak mean monthly ambient temperature (OR = 1.69, 95% C.I., 1.20-2.39;  = 0.004). Peak detection of was noted at the same time as the peak in detection of respiratory viruses (OR = 1.01, 95% C.I., 1.00-1.01;  = 0.015).

CONCLUSIONS

We identified distinct seasonal variation in detection of respiratory viruses and bacterial pathogens. seasonality may, in part, be related to antibiotic prescriptions filled; GNB seasonality may be related to ambient temperature and may be related to concurrent respiratory viral infections.