Clin Lab. 2023 Aug 1;69(8). doi: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2023.230216.
Although the detection of respiratory viruses other than severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was significantly reduced because of quarantine due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, an epidemic of several viruses was reported unexpectedly. We also detected a change in the pattern of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) outbreak compared to that before the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the authors intended to identify the incidence and altered distribution pattern of the HMPV outbreak and provide useful information for clinical practice.
This retrospective study investigated the incidence and distribution of HMPV from March 2020 to December 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Detection of respiratory microorganisms was performed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction using a commercial kit and FilmArray assay.
The overall incidence of at least one respiratory microorganism was 50.3% (1,152/2,290). HMPV was not detected between March 2020 and June 2022. However, it was suddenly detected in July 2022 and continued for approximately five months until November 2022. In particular, the detection rate of HMPV was high in September and October 2022, accounting for approximately 76.1% (51/67) of the total HMPV-positive cases. Seasonally, 92.5% (62/67) of HMPV cases were detected in autumn, while the rest of the cases were detected in summer. The HMPV detection rate, according to the age group, was highest in group 4 (3 - 6 years) at 7.4% (27/367), followed by group 3 (4 months to 2 years) at 3.6% (31/861). In HMPV-positive cases, the rate of more than two respiratory pathogens was 46.3% (31/67). An analysis of co-infecting pathogens showed that HMPV with rhinovirus A/B/C/ enteroviruses accounted for the highest percentage (51.6%), followed by HMPV with respiratory syncytial virus (48.4%).
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused several changes in our lives. This study confirmed that the seasonal distribution of HMPV was different from that before the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, it can be assumed that the distribution of other respiratory microorganisms could have changed and it appears that changes could occur in previously known viral epidemiology. Clinicians should therefore be alert to this possibility.
由于 COVID-19 大流行期间的隔离，除了严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 2 (SARS-CoV-2) 以外的呼吸道病毒的检测显著减少，但出乎意料地报告了数种病毒的流行。我们还发现，与 COVID-19 大流行之前相比，人类偏肺病毒 (HMPV) 爆发的模式发生了变化。因此，作者旨在确定 HMPV 爆发的发病率和改变的分布模式，并为临床实践提供有用的信息。
本回顾性研究调查了 COVID-19 大流行期间 2020 年 3 月至 2022 年 12 月期间 HMPV 的发病率和分布情况。使用商业试剂盒和 FilmArray 检测方法通过多重聚合酶链反应检测呼吸道微生物。
至少有一种呼吸道微生物的总发病率为 50.3%（1,152/2,290）。2020 年 3 月至 2022 年 6 月期间未检测到 HMPV。然而，它于 2022 年 7 月突然被检测到，并持续了大约五个月，直到 2022 年 11 月。特别是，2022 年 9 月和 10 月 HMPV 的检出率较高，占总 HMPV 阳性病例的约 76.1%（51/67）。从季节上看，92.5%（62/67）的 HMPV 病例发生在秋季，其余病例发生在夏季。根据年龄组，HMPV 的检出率最高的是 4 组（3-6 岁）为 7.4%（27/367），其次是 3 组（4 个月至 2 岁）为 3.6%（31/861）。在 HMPV 阳性病例中，两种以上呼吸道病原体的检出率为 46.3%（31/67）。合并感染病原体的分析显示，HMPV 与鼻病毒 A/B/C/肠道病毒的检出率最高（51.6%），其次是 HMPV 与呼吸道合胞病毒（48.4%）。
COVID-19 大流行给我们的生活带来了一些变化。本研究证实，HMPV 的季节性分布与 COVID-19 大流行之前不同。因此，可以假设其他呼吸道微生物的分布可能已经发生了变化，而且似乎先前已知的病毒流行病学也可能发生了变化。因此，临床医生应注意到这种可能性。
