Inma Phattharaporn, Suntronwong Nungruthai, Sinsulpsiri Silpsiri, Srimaneewiroon Suriya, Poovorawan Yong
Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, THA.
Center of Excellence In Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, THA.
Cureus. 2024 Aug 14;16(8):e66897. doi: 10.7759/cureus.66897. eCollection 2024 Aug.
Background Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are a significant public health concern globally. After the relaxation of COVID-19 containment measures, there has been an increase in respiratory tract infections. However, the epidemiological data on circulating respiratory pathogens after the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangkok, Thailand are interesting. We conducted a study on the respiratory pathogens detected in patients with ARIs in 2023. Methodology This retrospective study utilizes archived nasopharyngeal swab samples from patients with ARIs of all ages at Bangpakok 9 Hospital between January and December 2023. These samples were collected when physicians ordered multiplex polymerase chain reaction testing as part of the diagnostic investigation. All samples were tested for 23 types of respiratory viruses and bacteria using multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (QIAstat-Dx, Qiagen) testing. Results Of 321 patients, viral pathogens were found in 78.5% of cases, with 21.5% remaining unidentified. Most patients (47%) were aged between two months to five years. The most common pathogen identified was rhino/enterovirus (28.0%), followed by human parainfluenza virus (15.1%), influenza virus (12.0%), respiratory syncytial virus (9.9%), human metapneumovirus (9.5%), adenovirus (9.2%), bocavirus (8.0%), and coronavirus (5.5%). Interestingly, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was relatively low at 2.8%. Moreover, viral co-infection was observed in 25% of cases. Monthly distribution revealed the fluctuating prevalence of detected respiratory pathogens co-circulation throughout the year. In addition, the proportion of identified pathogens varied among patients across all age groups. Conclusions Our study reported the high prevalence of respiratory pathogens in ARI patients of all ages after the COVID-19 pandemic. The most prevalent respiratory pathogens among ARI cases were viruses, particularly rhino/enterovirus. The data hold significance for physician awareness regarding diagnosis, treatment, and the implementation of infection control strategies in cases of ARIs.
急性呼吸道感染（ARIs）是全球重大的公共卫生问题。在新冠疫情防控措施放宽后，呼吸道感染有所增加。然而，泰国曼谷新冠疫情大流行后有关流行呼吸道病原体的流行病学数据令人关注。我们对2023年急性呼吸道感染患者中检测到的呼吸道病原体进行了一项研究。
这项回顾性研究利用了2023年1月至12月期间邦帕科克9医院所有年龄段急性呼吸道感染患者的存档鼻咽拭子样本。这些样本是在医生下令进行多重聚合酶链反应检测作为诊断调查的一部分时采集的。所有样本都使用多重逆转录 - 聚合酶链反应（QIAstat - Dx，Qiagen）检测法检测了23种呼吸道病毒和细菌。
在321名患者中，78.5%的病例发现了病毒病原体，21.5%仍未查明。大多数患者（47%）年龄在两个月至五岁之间。鉴定出的最常见病原体是鼻病毒/肠道病毒（28.0%），其次是人副流感病毒（15.1%）、流感病毒（12.0%）、呼吸道合胞病毒（9.9%）、人偏肺病毒（9.5%）、腺病毒（9.2%）、博卡病毒（8.0%）和冠状病毒（5.5%）。有趣的是，新冠病毒感染的患病率相对较低，为2.8%。此外，25%的病例观察到病毒合并感染。月度分布显示全年检测到的呼吸道病原体共同流行的患病率波动。此外，所有年龄组患者中鉴定出的病原体比例各不相同。
我们的研究报告了新冠疫情大流行后各年龄段急性呼吸道感染患者中呼吸道病原体的高患病率。急性呼吸道感染病例中最普遍的呼吸道病原体是病毒，尤其是鼻病毒/肠道病毒。这些数据对于医生在急性呼吸道感染病例的诊断、治疗以及感染控制策略的实施方面的认知具有重要意义。
