Performance of a rapid multi-analyte 2-photon excitation assay in children with acute respiratory infection

A review on epidemiology and impact of human metapneumovirus infections in children using TIAB search strategy on PubMed and PubMed Central articles

Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) contribute to morbidity and mortality in children globally. Viruses including human metapneumovirus (hMPV) account for most ARTIs. The virus causes upper and lower respiratory tract infections mostly in young children and contributes to hospitalization of individuals with asthma,chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and cancer. Moreover, hMPV pauses a considerable socio-economic impact creating a substantial disease burden wherever it has been studied, although hMPV testing is relatively new in many countries. We aimed to comprehensively analyze the epidemiological aspects including prevalence, disease burden and seasonality of hMPV infections in children in the world. We acquired published data extracted from PubMed and PubMed Central articles using the title and abstract (TIAB)search strategy for the major key words on hMPV infections from 9/54 African, 11/35 American, 20/50 Asian, 2/14 Australian/Oceanian and 20/51 European countries. According to the findings of this review, the prevalence of hMPV infection ranges from 1.1 to 86% in children of less than 5 years of age globally. Presence of many hMPV genotypes (A1, A2, B1, B2) and sub-genotypes (A2a, A2b, A2c, B2a, B2b) suggests a rapid evolution of the virus with limited influence by time and geography. hMPV infection mostly affects children between 2 to 5 years of age. The virus is active throughout the year in the tropics and epidemics occur during the winter and spring in temperate climates, contributing to a substantial disease burden globally.

Analytical performance of the automated multianalyte point-of-care mariPOC® for the detection of respiratory viruses

The analytical performance of mariPOC® respi test (ArcDia® Laboratories, Turku, Finland) was evaluated using nucleic acid amplification techniques (NAATs) as the gold standard. The mariPOC assay allows automated detection of antigens from 8 respiratory viruses: influenza A and B viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, and parainfluenza viruses 1-3. Positive results from samples with high viral load are available in 20min. Nasopharyngeal aspirates (n=192) from patients with acute respiratory infection and from previously positive samples were analyzed by mariPOC and NAATs (Simplexa(TM) FluA/FluB & RSV kit [n=118] and Luminex® Respiratory virus panel xTAG® RVP FAST [n=74]). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of mariPOC were 85.4%, 99.2%, 95.9%, and 97%, respectively, and 84.6% of positive results were reported in 20min. The good analytical performance and extended portfolio of mariPOC show this rapid assay as a good alternative for the etiological diagnosis of acute respiratory infection in laboratories that are not equipped with molecular assays.

Point-of-care testing for respiratory viruses in adults: The current landscape and future potential

Respiratory viruses are responsible for a large proportion of acute respiratory illness in adults as well as children, and are associated with a huge socio-economic burden worldwide. Development of accurate point-of-care tests (POCT) for respiratory viruses has been listed as a priority by the World Health Organisation and replacing the current paradigm of empirical antimicrobial use with directed use is a listed goal of the movement for reduction in antimicrobial resistance. POCTs for respiratory viruses have previously been limited by the poor sensitivity of antigen detection based tests and by a limited range of detectable viruses. Highly accurate molecular platforms are now able to test for a comprehensive range of viruses, can be operated by non-laboratory staff and can generate a result in approximately 1 h, making them potentially deployable as POCTs. The potential clinical benefits of POC testing for respiratory viruses in adults include a reduction in unnecessary antibiotic use, improved antiviral prescribing for influenza and rationalisation of isolation facilities. We review here the burden of disease, the currently available molecular platforms with potential for POCT use and the existing evidence for clinical and economic benefits of testing for respiratory viruses in adults.

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There is a large burden of respiratory virus infection in hospitalised adults.

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Replacing empirical antimicrobials with pathogen directed use is a global priority.

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Molecular platforms now exist with potential for use as point-of-care tests (POCT).

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Potential benefits of POCT include a reduction in unnecessary antibiotic use.

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High quality trials evaluating clinically relevant outcomes are urgently needed.

Evaluation of a rapid antigen detection point-of-care test for respiratory syncytial virus and influenza in a pediatric hospitalized population in the Netherlands

This pilot study evaluates the diagnostic performance of Sofia RSV Fluorescent Immunoassay Analyzer (FIA) and Sofia Influenza A + B FIA for rapid detection of respiratory syncytial virus and influenza A and B. Sofia had a lower-than-expected sensitivity for all viruses and a high rate of false-positive results for influenza B virus.