Boyanton Bobby L, Frenner Rachel A, Ingold Ashton, Ambroggio Lilliam, Kennedy Joshua L
Departments of Pathology, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR 72202, and University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205.
Department of Pathology, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR 72202.
medRxiv. 2023 Aug 9:2023.08.05.23293566. doi: 10.1101/2023.08.05.23293566.
Non-pharmacologic interventions (NPIs), such as universal masking, implemented during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have reduced respiratory infections among children. This study focuses on evaluating the impact of NPIs on infections in children, analyzing data from two hospitals in Arkansas, and examining age-related differences and coinfections with other viruses.
The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board and included patients aged ≤18 years with upper respiratory tract symptoms. Data from the FilmArray Respiratory Panel (FARP) were collected and divided into pre-NPI and NPI periods for analysis. Total test positivity rate and interval change in the positivity rate were evaluated. Statistical differences were determined by Chi-square (χ-independence) analysis.
A total of 68,949 tests were performed with a statistical increase in testing during the NPI period. The overall test positivity rate for decreased by 74% (0.86% to 0.03%) during the NPI period, and the preschool age group had the highest number of positive tests in the pre- and NPI periods (Pre-NPI: n=40, NPI: n=12 positive tests, p=<0.001). The reduction in infections was consistent across age groups. Coinfections with other respiratory viruses, particularly human rhinovirus/enterovirus, were observed at much lower levels.
NPIs effectively reduced in pediatric patients in Arkansas, and coinfections with specific viruses still occurred, albeit at lower levels during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. As NPIs are relaxed and the pandemic ends, we expect infections to return to pre-pandemic levels within the next 1-2 years.
在严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）大流行期间实施的非药物干预措施（NPIs），如普遍佩戴口罩，已减少了儿童呼吸道感染。本研究重点评估非药物干预措施对儿童感染的影响，分析阿肯色州两家医院的数据，并研究年龄相关差异以及与其他病毒的合并感染情况。
本研究经机构审查委员会批准，纳入了年龄≤18岁且有上呼吸道症状的患者。收集了FilmArray呼吸道检测板（FARP）的数据，并分为非药物干预措施实施前和实施后两个时期进行分析。评估了总检测阳性率和阳性率的区间变化。通过卡方（χ²独立性）分析确定统计学差异。
共进行了68949次检测，在非药物干预措施实施期间检测量有统计学意义的增加。在非药物干预措施实施期间，总体检测阳性率下降了74%（从0.86%降至0.03%），学龄前年龄组在非药物干预措施实施前和实施后的阳性检测数最多（非药物干预措施实施前：n = 40，非药物干预措施实施后：n = 12次阳性检测，p < 0.001）。各年龄组的感染减少情况一致。观察到与其他呼吸道病毒的合并感染，特别是人鼻病毒/肠道病毒，其水平要低得多。
非药物干预措施有效地降低了阿肯色州儿科患者的感染，并且仍发生了与特定病毒的合并感染，尽管在SARS-CoV-2大流行期间其水平较低。随着非药物干预措施的放宽和大流行的结束，我们预计在未来1 - 2年内感染将恢复到大流行前的水平。
