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Durão V, Clérigo V, Durão P, Alfaiate A, Noivo D, Durão F, Peres M. Respiratory viral infections before the COVID-19 in Portugal: A single center study. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30894. [PMID: 38778982 PMCID: PMC11109810 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives We aimed to describe the respiratory viruses (RV) found in respiratory samples from patients admitted to Hospital de São Bernardo, Setúbal, Portugal, between October 2019 and March 2020, and to correlate these with clinical features. Design This retrospective study explored 948 fresh frozen naso/oropharyngeal swabs, tested by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results Rhinovirus/enterovirus, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) were the most prevalent RV. Half of the patients fulfilled the acute respiratory infection (ARI) and/or influenza-like illness (ILI) criteria, with increasing age significantly reducing the risk of ARI and/or ILI. Hospital admission was more frequently observed in symptomatic patients, but the length of stay and mortality were significantly lower. Most (96.5 %) patients had a main respiratory diagnosis. In adults, the most prevalent was pneumonia, which particularly affected older patients, while in children, the most common was bronchiolitis. The number of hospital admissions was high. Sudden onset, shortness of breath, older age, and hRSV detection significantly increased the risk of hospital admission overall. In bronchiolitis, female gender significantly increased the risk of hospital admission, while older age significantly reduced this risk. Twenty patients died within the first month of sampling, and all were older adults. Older age and male gender significantly increased the risk of death. Conclusions Respiratory viral infections can have a significant clinical impact, particularly in young infants with bronchiolitis and older adults with pneumonia. This study provides the first snapshot of the respiratory viral infections just before the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in Portugal, providing relevant clinical insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Durão
- Hospital de Vila Franca de Xira, Lisboa, Portugal
- Hospital de São Bernardo, Setúbal, Portugal
| | | | - Paulo Durão
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
| | | | | | - Fernando Durão
- DECivil/CERENA, Técnico Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
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2
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Domnich A, Calabrò GE. Epidemiology and burden of respiratory syncytial virus in Italian adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297608. [PMID: 38442123 PMCID: PMC10914269 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory pathogen not only in children, but also in adults. In view of a recent authorization of adult RSV vaccines in Italy, our research question was to quantify the epidemiology and burden of RSV in Italian adults. METHODS Observational studies on the epidemiology and clinical burden of laboratory-confirmed or record-coded RSV infection in Italian adults of any age were eligible. Studies with no separate data for Italian adults, modeling and other secondary publications were excluded. A literature search was performed in MEDLINE, Biological Abstracts, Global Health, Scopus and Web of Science on 22 November 2023. Critical appraisal was performed by means of a Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Random-effects (RE) meta-analysis was performed to obtain pooled estimates and the observed heterogeneity was investigated by subgroup and meta-regression analyses. The protocol was prospectively registered (doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.5qpvo32odv4o/v1). RESULTS Thirty-five studies were identified, most of which had at least one possible quality concern. RSV seasonal attack rates ranged from 0.8 ‰ in community-dwelling older adults to 10.9% in hematological outpatients. In the RE model, 4.5% (95% CI: 3.2-5.9%) of respiratory samples tested positive for RSV. This positivity prevalence was higher in older adults (4.4%) than in working-age adults (3.5%) and in outpatient (4.9%) than inpatient (2.9%) settings. According to the meta-regression, study location and sample size were also significant predictors of RSV detection frequency. The pooled estimate of in-hospital mortality was as high as 7.2% (95% CI: 4.7-10.3%). Data on other indicators of the diseases burden, such as complication and hospitalization rates, were unavailable. CONCLUSION RSV poses a measurable burden on Italian adults, especially those of older age and with some co-morbidities. However, several data on the natural history of RSV disease are missing and should be established by future large-scale studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Domnich
- Hygiene Unit, San Martino Policlinico Hospital-IRCCS for Oncology and Neurosciences, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giovanna Elisa Calabrò
- Section of Hygiene, Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
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3
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Hu L, Yang Y, Lin J, Yan Q, Sun C, Li Z, Sun L, Xu J, Chen J, Bai G. Epidemiological characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus infection in pediatric patients before, during the COVID-19 pandemic and after easing of COVID-19 restrictive measures in China. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29374. [PMID: 38197487 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
We aimed to assess the epidemiological characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in Chinese children at different phases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, that is, before, during the pandemic and after easing of restrictive measures. We included 123 623 patients aged 0-18 years with respiratory infection symptoms who were suspected with RSV infection from January 1, 2019 to June 30, 2023 in Hangzhou Children's Hospital. Clinical information and RSV test result were extracted from the laboratory information system. We calculated the positive rate of RSV detection by age groups, gender, seasons, types of patients and phases of COVID-19 pandemic. Nonlinear associations between age and risk of RSV infection in three phases of pandemic were assessed by restricted cubic spline regression models. Among 123 623 patients, 3875 (3.13%) were tested as positive. The highest positive rate was observed in children aged 0-28 days (i.e., 12.28%). RSV infection was most prevalent in winter (6.04%), and followed by autumn (2.52%). Although there is no statistical significance regarding the positive rate at three phases of the pandemic, we observed that the rate was lowest during the pandemic and increased after easing the measures in certain age groups (p < 0.05), which was consisted with results from the nonlinear regression analyses. In addition, regression analyses suggested that the age range of children susceptible to RSV got wider, that is, 0-3.5 years, after easing all restrictive measures compared with that before (i.e., 0-3 years) and during the pandemic (i.e., 0-1 year). Based on our findings, we called for attention from health professionals and caregivers on the new epidemiological characteristics of RSV infection in the post-pandemic era after easing the restrictive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidan Hu
- Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Public Health and Biosafety & School of Public Health, Kunming, China
| | - Jianyu Lin
- Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qingtao Yan
- Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Changxuan Sun
- Dushu Lake Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Medical Center of Soochow University, Suzhou Dushu Lake Hospital, Suzhou, Jiangshu, China
| | - Ziqiao Li
- Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lidan Sun
- Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jingfang Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Respiratory, Hangzhou Children's Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Guannan Bai
- Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Yavarian J, Shatizadeh Malekshahi S, Faraji-Zonouz M, Kalantari S, Zadheidar S, Saghafi S, Tarpour F, Letafati A, Ahmadi AS, Shafiei-Jandaghi NZ, Mokhtari-Azad T. Impact of COVID-19 on the changing pattern of human orthopneumovirus (respiratory syncytial virus) infection in Iran. BMC Infect Dis 2023; 23:591. [PMID: 37697227 PMCID: PMC10494416 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08588-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human orthopneumovirus (HOPV) or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the important causes of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) during the cold months of the year worldwide. Many countries have reported an absence of ARIs due to HOPV during the winter of 2020-2021 associated with preventive measures to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV2. However, with the reduction of COVID-19 public health restrictions and the absence of immunity in the community due to the lack of exposure in the previous season, many countries had a delayed HOPV outbreak. Here we reported the impact of COVID-19 on the changing pattern of HOPV infection in Iran. METHODS Throat and nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected from patients (children and adults) with ARIs and sent to the Iran National Influenza Center. After RNA extraction, Real time RT-PCR was performed for HOPV detection. RESULTS In 260 samples collected from patients with ARIs in three different groups, which included children in March 2021, pilgrims in July 2022, and outpatients during November and December 2022, no HOPV was detected in any group. CONCLUSIONS The lack of HOPV activity in Iran during the winter of 2020-2021 and then the resurgence in spring 2022 and again the absence of activity in summer and autumn 2022 was extraordinary in the HOPV epidemiology, and probably due to the implementation of public health non-pharmaceutical interventions to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV2. Although it is not possible to keep such restrictions, similar methods can be taken to control outbreaks caused by respiratory viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jila Yavarian
- Virology Department, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Research Center for Antibiotic Stewardship & Antimicrobial Resistance, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Marziyeh Faraji-Zonouz
- Virology Department, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shirin Kalantari
- Virology Department, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sevrin Zadheidar
- Virology Department, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sara Saghafi
- Virology Department, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Faezeh Tarpour
- Virology Department, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arash Letafati
- Virology Department, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Akram Sadat Ahmadi
- Virology Department, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Talat Mokhtari-Azad
- Virology Department, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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5
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Arunasalam S, Pattiyakumbura T, Shihab SR, Muthugala R, Noordeen F. Demographic and clinical characteristics of human bocavirus-1 infection in patients with acute respiratory tract infections during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. BMC Infect Dis 2023; 23:425. [PMID: 37349687 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08312-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human bocavirus-1 (hBoV-1) was first detected in respiratory specimens in 2005. Due to high co-infection rates and prolonged shedding of the virus, the pathogenic role of hBoV-1 as a primary causative agent of respiratory infections is still under discussion. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hBoV-1 infection in patients with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. METHODS A total of 1021 patients (Age 12 days to ≤ 85 years) with ARTI symptoms including fever, cough, cold, sore throat and shortness of breath within first 7 days of the illness were included. The study was carried out at the National Hospital, Kandy, Sri Lanka from January 2021 to October 2022. Respiratory specimens were tested to detect 23 pathogens including hBoV-1 using a real time PCR. Prevalence of hBoV-1 co-infections with other respiratory pathogens and distribution of hBoV-1 infection among different age groups were determined. Moreover, clinical and demographic characteristics of hBoV-1 mono-infection associated ARTI were compared with that of the hBoV-1 co-infections. RESULTS Respiratory infections were detected in 51.5% (526/1021) of the patients and of these 82.5% were mono- and 17.1% were co-infections. hBoV-1 was detected in 66 patients and this was the most prevalent respiratory virus associated with 40% co-infections. Of the 66 hBoV-1 positive patients, 36 had co-infections and of these 33 had dual and 3 had triple infections. Most of the hBoV-1 co-infections were identified in children aged 2-<5 years. hBoV-1 co-infections were most frequently detected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Rhino/ Entero viruses (Rh/EnV). No differences were observed in age, gender and clinical presentations in those with hBoV-1 mono- compared to co-infections. Intensive care admissions were less among hBoV-1 mono-infected than hBoV-1 co-infected patients. CONCLUSION This study shows a prevalence of 12.5% for hBoV-1 infections in patients with ARTI. RSV and Rh/EnV were the most common co-infecting pathogens with hBoV-1. Clinical features of hBoV-1 mono-infections were not different to that of the hBoV-1 co-infections. Interactions between hBoV-1 and other respiratory pathogens need investigation to identify the role of hBoV-1 in clinical severity of co-infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyamalee Arunasalam
- Diagnostic and Research Virology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, 20400, Sri Lanka
| | | | - Sibra Rm Shihab
- Diagnostic and Research Virology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, 20400, Sri Lanka
| | - Rohitha Muthugala
- Virology Laboratory, National Hospital Kandy, Kandy, 20000, Sri Lanka
| | - Faseeha Noordeen
- Diagnostic and Research Virology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, 20400, Sri Lanka.
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Losier A, Gupta G, Caldararo M, Dela Cruz CS. The Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 on Viral, Bacterial, and Fungal Respiratory Infections. Clin Chest Med 2023; 44:407-423. [PMID: 37085229 PMCID: PMC9968485 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccm.2022.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains an ongoing threat, concerns regarding other respiratory infections remain. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic various epidemiologic trends have been observed in other respiratory viruses including a reduction in influenza and respiratory syncytial virus infections following onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Observations suggest that infections with other respiratory viruses were reduced with social distancing, mask wearing, eye protection, and hand hygiene practices. Coinfections with COVID-19 exist not only with other respiratory viruses but also with bacterial pneumonias and other nosocomial and opportunistic infections. Coinfections have been associated with increased severity of illness and other adverse outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Losier
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
| | - Gayatri Gupta
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Mario Caldararo
- Veteran's Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Charles S Dela Cruz
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
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7
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Nguyen TN, Phung VD, Tran VV. Recent Advances in Conjugated Polymer-Based Biosensors for Virus Detection. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:586. [PMID: 37366951 DOI: 10.3390/bios13060586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, virus pandemics have become a major burden seriously affecting human health and social and economic development. Thus, the design and fabrication of effective and low-cost techniques for early and accurate virus detection have been given priority for prevention and control of such pandemics. Biosensors and bioelectronic devices have been demonstrated as promising technology to resolve the major drawbacks and problems of the current detection methods. Discovering and applying advanced materials have offered opportunities to develop and commercialize biosensor devices for effectively controlling pandemics. Along with various well-known materials such as gold and silver nanoparticles, carbon-based materials, metal oxide-based materials, and graphene, conjugated polymer (CPs) have become one of the most promising candidates for preparation and construction of excellent biosensors with high sensitivity and specificity to different virus analytes owing to their unique π orbital structure and chain conformation alterations, solution processability, and flexibility. Therefore, CP-based biosensors have been regarded as innovative technologies attracting great interest from the community for early diagnosis of COVID-19 as well as other virus pandemics. For providing precious scientific evidence of CP-based biosensor technologies in virus detection, this review aims to give a critical overview of the recent research related to use of CPs in fabrication of virus biosensors. We emphasize structures and interesting characteristics of different CPs and discuss the state-of-the-art applications of CP-based biosensors as well. In addition, different types of biosensors such as optical biosensors, organic thin film transistors (OTFT), and conjugated polymer hydrogels (CPHs) based on CPs are also summarized and presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanh Ngoc Nguyen
- NTT Hi-Tech Institute, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, 300A Nguyen Tat Thanh, Ward 13, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
| | - Viet-Duc Phung
- Institute of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Duy Tan University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
- Faculty of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam
| | - Vinh Van Tran
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Republic of Korea
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8
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Porcu G, Chen YX, Bonaugurio AS, Villa S, Riva L, Messina V, Bagarella G, Maistrello M, Leoni O, Cereda D, Matone F, Gori A, Corrao G. Web-based surveillance of respiratory infection outbreaks: retrospective analysis of Italian COVID-19 epidemic waves using Google Trends. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1141688. [PMID: 37275497 PMCID: PMC10233021 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1141688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Large-scale diagnostic testing has been proven insufficient to promptly monitor the spread of the Coronavirus disease 2019. Electronic resources may provide better insight into the early detection of epidemics. We aimed to retrospectively explore whether the Google search volume has been useful in detecting Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus outbreaks early compared to the swab-based surveillance system. Methods The Google Trends website was used by applying the research to three Italian regions (Lombardy, Marche, and Sicily), covering 16 million Italian citizens. An autoregressive-moving-average model was fitted, and residual charts were plotted to detect outliers in weekly searches of five keywords. Signals that occurred during periods labelled as free from epidemics were used to measure Positive Predictive Values and False Negative Rates in anticipating the epidemic wave occurrence. Results Signals from "fever," "cough," and "sore throat" showed better performance than those from "loss of smell" and "loss of taste." More than 80% of true epidemic waves were detected early by the occurrence of at least an outlier signal in Lombardy, although this implies a 20% false alarm signals. Performance was poorer for Sicily and Marche. Conclusion Monitoring the volume of Google searches can be a valuable tool for early detection of respiratory infectious disease outbreaks, particularly in areas with high access to home internet. The inclusion of web-based syndromic keywords is promising as it could facilitate the containment of COVID-19 and perhaps other unknown infectious diseases in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Porcu
- Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health Unit, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Yu Xi Chen
- Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health Unit, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- Directorate General for Health, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Stella Bonaugurio
- Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health Unit, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- Directorate General for Health, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy
| | - Simone Villa
- Centre for Multidisciplinary Research in Health Science, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Leonardo Riva
- Department of Informatics, Systems and Communication, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- PoliS Lombardia, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzina Messina
- Department of Informatics, Systems and Communication, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- PoliS Lombardia, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgio Bagarella
- Directorate General for Health, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy
- Agency for Health Protection of the Metropolitan Area of Milan, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy
| | - Mauro Maistrello
- Directorate General for Health, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy
- Local Health Unit of Melegnano and Martesana, Milan, Italy
| | - Olivia Leoni
- Directorate General for Health, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy
| | - Danilo Cereda
- Directorate General for Health, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Gori
- ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Luigi Sacco Hospital – University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Corrao
- Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health Unit, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- Directorate General for Health, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy
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9
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Panatto D, Domnich A, Lai PL, Ogliastro M, Bruzzone B, Galli C, Stefanelli F, Pariani E, Orsi A, Icardi G. Epidemiology and molecular characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) among italian community-dwelling adults, 2021/22 season. BMC Infect Dis 2023; 23:134. [PMID: 36882698 PMCID: PMC9990006 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08100-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory infections worldwide. While historically RSV research has been focused on children, data on RSV infection in adults are limited. The goal of this study was to establish the prevalence of RSV in community-dwelling Italian adults and analyze its genetic variability during the 2021/22 winter season. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, a random sample of naso-/oropharyngeal specimens from symptomatic adults seeking for SARS-CoV-2 molecular testing between December 2021 and March 2022 were tested for RSV and other respiratory pathogens by means of reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. RSV-positive samples were further molecularly characterized by sequence analysis. RESULTS Of 1,213 samples tested, 1.6% (95% CI: 0.9-2.4%) were positive for RSV and subgroups A (44.4%) and B (55.6%) were identified in similar proportions. The epidemic peak occurred in December 2021, when the RSV prevalence was as high as 4.6% (95% CI: 2.2-8.3%). The prevalence of RSV detection was similar (p = 0.64) to that of influenza virus (1.9%). All RSV A and B strains belonged to the ON1 and BA genotypes, respectively. Most (72.2%) RSV-positive samples were also positive for other pathogens being SARS-CoV-2, Streptococcus pneumoniae and rhinovirus the most frequent. RSV load was significantly higher among mono-detections than co-detections. CONCLUSION During the 2021/22 winter season, characterized by the predominant circulation of SARS-CoV-2 and some non-pharmaceutical containment measures still in place, a substantial proportion of Italian adults tested positive for genetically diversified strains of both RSV subtypes. In view of the upcoming registration of vaccines, establishment of the National RSV surveillance system is urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Panatto
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Via A. Pastore, 1, 16132, Genoa, Italy. .,Interuniversity Research Center on Influenza and Other Transmissible Infections (CIRI-IT), Genoa, Italy.
| | - Alexander Domnich
- Hygiene Unit, San Martino Policlinico Hospital-IRCCS for Oncology and Neurosciences, Genoa, Italy
| | - Piero Luigi Lai
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Via A. Pastore, 1, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Matilde Ogliastro
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Via A. Pastore, 1, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Bianca Bruzzone
- Hygiene Unit, San Martino Policlinico Hospital-IRCCS for Oncology and Neurosciences, Genoa, Italy
| | - Cristina Galli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Stefanelli
- Hygiene Unit, San Martino Policlinico Hospital-IRCCS for Oncology and Neurosciences, Genoa, Italy
| | - Elena Pariani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Orsi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Via A. Pastore, 1, 16132, Genoa, Italy.,Interuniversity Research Center on Influenza and Other Transmissible Infections (CIRI-IT), Genoa, Italy.,Hygiene Unit, San Martino Policlinico Hospital-IRCCS for Oncology and Neurosciences, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Icardi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Via A. Pastore, 1, 16132, Genoa, Italy.,Interuniversity Research Center on Influenza and Other Transmissible Infections (CIRI-IT), Genoa, Italy.,Hygiene Unit, San Martino Policlinico Hospital-IRCCS for Oncology and Neurosciences, Genoa, Italy
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10
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Riccò M, Corrado S, Cerviere MP, Ranzieri S, Marchesi F. Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prevention through Monoclonal Antibodies: A Cross-Sectional Study on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Italian Pediatricians. Pediatr Rep 2023; 15:154-174. [PMID: 36810343 PMCID: PMC9944855 DOI: 10.3390/pediatric15010013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a leading cause of morbidity and hospitalization in all infants. Many RSV vaccines and monoclonal antibodies (mAb) are currently under development to protect all infants, but to date preventive options are available only for preterms. In this study, we assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards RSV and the preventive use of mAb in a sample of Italian Pediatricians. An internet survey was administered through an internet discussion group, with a response rate of 4.4% over the potential respondents (No. 389 out of 8842, mean age 40.1 ± 9.1 years). The association of individual factors, knowledge, and risk perception status with the attitude towards mAb was initially inquired by means of a chi squared test, and all variables associated with mAb with p < 0.05 were included in a multivariable model calculating correspondent adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Of the participants, 41.9% had managed RSV cases in the previous 5 years, 34.4% had diagnosed RSV cases, and 32.6% required a subsequent hospitalization. However, only 14.4% had previously required mAb as immunoprophylaxis for RSV. Knowledge status was substantially inappropriate (actual estimate 54.0% ± 14.2, potential range 0-100), while the majority of participants acknowledged RSV as a substantial health threat for all infants (84.8%). In multivariable analysis, all these factors were characterized as positive effectors for having prescribed mAb (aOR 6.560, 95%CI 2.904-14.822 for higher knowledge score; aOR 6.579, 95%CI 2.919-14.827 for having a hospital background, and a OR 13.440, 95%CI 3.989; 45.287 for living in Italian Major Islands). In other words, reporting less knowledge gaps, having worked in settings with a higher risk of interaction with more severe cases, and being from Italian Major Islands, were identified as positive effectors for a higher reliance on mAb. However, the significant extent of knowledge gaps highlights the importance of appropriate medical education on RSV, its potential health consequences, and the investigational preventive interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Riccò
- AUSL–IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Servizio di Prevenzione e Sicurezza Negli Ambienti di Lavoro (SPSAL), Local Health Unit of Reggio Emilia, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +39-339-2994343 or +39-522-837587
| | - Silvia Corrado
- Department of Medicine DAME–Division of Pediatrics, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Milena Pia Cerviere
- UOC of Endocrine and Metabolic Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Ranzieri
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Federico Marchesi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
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11
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Infodemiology of RSV in Italy (2017-2022): An Alternative Option for the Surveillance of Incident Cases in Pediatric Age? CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:children9121984. [PMID: 36553427 PMCID: PMC9777371 DOI: 10.3390/children9121984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether or not online queries for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) retrieved by means of Google Trends™ and the Italian Wikipedia analysis program mirror the occurrence of influenza-like illnesses (ILI), as reported by the Italian Influenza Surveillance network (InfluNet). Estimated rates for ILI in the general population and in the age groups 0−4 years and 5−14 years were obtained for the influenza seasons 2017−2018 to 2020−2021. Similarly, a weekly fraction of online searches was retrieved for a series of terms associated with Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Next, trends for daily visualization of Italian Wikipedia Pages for Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Pneumonia, Bronchiolitis, Influenza, and Respiratory Failure were similarly retrieved. The correlation of all search terms with ILI was analyzed by means of Spearman’s rank correlation analysis. Among search terms associated with the clinical diagnosis of Respiratory Syncytial Virus infections, the occurrence of ILI was highly correlated only with Bronchiolitis in the age group 0−4 years (β 0.210, p = 0.028), while more generic search terms, such as Bronchitis, fever, influenza, and Pneumonia, were identified as effective predictors of ILI, in general and by age groups. In a regression analysis modeled with ILIs as the outcome variable, daily visualizations for the Wikipedia pages on Bronchiolitis were identified as negative predictors for ILI in general (β = −0.152, p = 0.032), ILI in age group 0−4 years (β = −0.264, p = 0.001) and 5−14 years (β = −0.202, p = 0.006), while Influenza was characterized as a positive effector for ILIs in the age group 5−14 years (β = 0.245, p = 0.001). Interestingly, not only were the search terms extensively correlated with one another, but all of them were also characterized by autocorrelation through a Durbin-Watson test (all estimates DW < 2.0) In summary, our study identified a complicated pattern of data visualization as no clear association between rates of ILI in pediatric age group 0−4 and 5 to 14 years was actually found. Finally, our data stress that the infodemiology option may be quite problematic for assessing the time trend of RSV infections in Italy until more appropriate reporting will be made available, by sharing estimates of Lower Respiratory Tract Infections, and through a more accurate characterization of younger age groups.
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12
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Mrcela D, Markic J, Zhao C, Viskovic DV, Milic P, Copac R, Li Y. Changes following the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Burden of Hospitalization for Respiratory Syncytial Virus Acute Lower Respiratory Infection in Children under Two Years: A Retrospective Study from Croatia. Viruses 2022; 14:v14122746. [PMID: 36560751 PMCID: PMC9785187 DOI: 10.3390/v14122746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
To understand the changes in RSV hospitalization burden in children younger than two years following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we reviewed hospital records of children with acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) between January 2018 and June 2022 in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia. We compared RSV activity, age-specific annualized hospitalization rate, and disease severity between pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 periods. A total of 942 ALRI hospital admissions were included. RSV activity remained low for the typical RSV epidemic during 2020-2021 winter. An out-of-season RSV resurgence was observed in late spring and summer of 2021. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the annualized hospitalization rate for RSV-associated ALRI was 13.84/1000 (95% CI: 12.11-15.76) and highest among infants under six months. After the resurgence of RSV in the second half of 2021, the annualized hospitalization rate for RSV-associated ALRI in children younger than two years returned to the pre-pandemic levels with similar age distribution but a statistically higher proportion of severe cases. RSV immunization programs targeting protection of infants under six months of age are expected to remain impactful, although the optimal timing of administration would depend on RSV seasonality that has not yet been established in the study setting since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina Mrcela
- School of Medicine, University of Split, Soltanska 2, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Josko Markic
- School of Medicine, University of Split, Soltanska 2, 21000 Split, Croatia
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Split, Spinciceva 1, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Chenkai Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, 101 Longmian Avenue, Jiangning District, Nanjing 211166, China
| | | | - Petra Milic
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Split, Spinciceva 1, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Roko Copac
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Split, Rudera Boskovića 33, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - You Li
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, 101 Longmian Avenue, Jiangning District, Nanjing 211166, China
- Correspondence:
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Respiratory Syncytial Virus: An Uncommon Cause of Febrile Seizures-Results from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Pediatr Rep 2022; 14:464-478. [PMID: 36412662 PMCID: PMC9680341 DOI: 10.3390/pediatric14040055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a highly contagious viral pathogen. In infants, it is usually listed among the main causes of medical referrals and hospitalizations, particularly among newborns, and a considerable base of evidence associates RSV infections and bronchiolitis with long-term neurological sequelae. We specifically performed a systematic review and meta-analysis in order to ascertain whether RSV infections may be associated with an increased risk for febrile seizures (FS) in infected infants. According to the PRISMA statement, Pubmed, Embase, and pre-print archive medRxiv.og were searched for eligible observational studies published up to 1 July 2022. Raw data included the incidence of FS among children admitted for influenza-like illness (ILI) and/or bronchiolitis, with a confirmed diagnosis of RSV or seasonal influenza virus (SIV) infection. Data were then pooled in a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 measure, while reporting bias was assessed by means of funnel plots and regression analysis. A total of 11 studies including 6847 cases of RSV infections were retrieved, with a pooled prevalence of 29.975 cases of FS per 1000 RSV cases (I2 = 88.5%). The prevalence was not substantially greater in studies performed in pediatric intensive care units (53.817 per 1000 RSV cases vs. 23.552, p = 0.12). Higher occurrence of FS was reported from studies performed after 2010 (Risk Ratio [RR] 1.429, 95% Confidence Interval [95%CI] 1.049-1.948), and in China (RR 2.105, 95%CI 1.356-3.266) and South Africa (RR 1.722, 95%CI 1.060-2.824) than in Europe, while a lower occurrence was reported form the USA (RR 0.414, 95%CI 0.265-0.649). Eventually, FS were less likely reported from RSV cases compared to subjects affected by seasonal influenza (RR 0.402; 95%CI 0.228-0.708). Although RSV is often associated with high risk of neurological complications, substantially less cases of FS are reported than in SIV infections. However, the paucity of available studies recommends a cautious appraisal of aforementioned results.
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14
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Iša P, Taboada B, García-López R, Boukadida C, Ramírez-González JE, Vázquez-Pérez JA, Hernández-Terán A, Romero-Espinoza JÁ, Muñoz-Medina JE, Grajales-Muñiz C, Rincón-Rubio A, Matías-Florentino M, Sanchez-Flores A, Mendieta-Condado E, Barrera-Badillo G, López S, Hernández-Rivas L, López-Martínez I, Ávila-Ríos S, Arias CF. Metagenomic analysis reveals differences in the co-occurrence and abundance of viral species in SARS-CoV-2 patients with different severity of disease. BMC Infect Dis 2022; 22:792. [PMID: 36261802 PMCID: PMC9580447 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-022-07783-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background SARS-CoV-2 infections have a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations whose causes are not completely understood. Some human conditions predispose to severe outcome, like old age or the presence of comorbidities, but many other facets, including coinfections with other viruses, remain poorly characterized.
Methods In this study, the eukaryotic fraction of the respiratory virome of 120 COVID-19 patients was characterized through whole metagenomic sequencing. Results Genetic material from respiratory viruses was detected in 25% of all samples, whereas human viruses other than SARS-CoV-2 were found in 80% of them. Samples from hospitalized and deceased patients presented a higher prevalence of different viruses when compared to ambulatory individuals. Small circular DNA viruses from the Anneloviridae (Torque teno midi virus 8, TTV-like mini virus 19 and 26) and Cycloviridae families (Human associated cyclovirus 10), Human betaherpesvirus 6, were found to be significantly more abundant in samples from deceased and hospitalized patients compared to samples from ambulatory individuals. Similarly, Rotavirus A, Measles morbillivirus and Alphapapilomavirus 10 were significantly more prevalent in deceased patients compared to hospitalized and ambulatory individuals. Conclusions Results show the suitability of using metagenomics to characterize a broader peripheric virological landscape of the eukaryotic virome in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients with distinct disease outcomes. Identified prevalent viruses in hospitalized and deceased patients may prove important for the targeted exploration of coinfections that may impact prognosis. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-022-07783-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel Iša
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
| | - Blanca Taboada
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Rodrigo García-López
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Celia Boukadida
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | | | | | | | - José Esteban Muñoz-Medina
- Coordinación de Calidad de Insumos y Laboratorios Especializados, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Concepción Grajales-Muñiz
- Coordinación de Calidad de Insumos y Laboratorios Especializados, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alma Rincón-Rubio
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Margarita Matías-Florentino
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Sanchez-Flores
- Unidad Universitaria de Secuenciación Masiva y Bioinformática, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Edgar Mendieta-Condado
- Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos, Dirección General de Epidemiología, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Gisela Barrera-Badillo
- Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos, Dirección General de Epidemiología, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Susana López
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Lucía Hernández-Rivas
- Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos, Dirección General de Epidemiología, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Irma López-Martínez
- Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos, Dirección General de Epidemiología, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Santiago Ávila-Ríos
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Carlos F Arias
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
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15
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Kiseleva I, Musaeva T, Ksenafontov A. SARS-CoV-2 Invasion: What Happens to Other Respiratory Viruses? Open Microbiol J 2022. [DOI: 10.2174/18742858-v16-e2206100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This letter briefly presents the relationships between respiratory viruses in the years prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Viral common colds are self-limiting infections that typically resolve within a few days. However, when well-established epidemiological relationships are disrupted during a pandemic, they behave differently. For instance, during the 2009 influenza pandemic, while the majority of seasonal respiratory viruses lost ground under the pressure of a new pandemic strain, some others (for instance, human rhinoviruses) continued to circulate along with the pandemic pathogen and in some cases, even delayed its spread. With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, the degree of circulation of many respiratory viruses has changed dramatically. Along with a significant reduction in the circulation of many seasonal respiratory pathogens, rhinoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus and non-COVID-19 coronaviruses—being the most frequently identified respiratory pathogens—have shown their unique capability to compete with SARS-CoV-2.
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16
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Impact of COVID-19 on the Changing Patterns of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections. Infect Dis Rep 2022; 14:558-568. [PMID: 35893478 PMCID: PMC9394296 DOI: 10.3390/idr14040059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Seasonal epidemics of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the leading causes of hospitalization and mortality among children. Preventive measures implemented to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2, including facemasks, stay-at-home orders, closure of schools and local-national borders, and hand hygiene, may have also prevented the transmission of RSV and influenza. However, with the easing of COVID-19 imposed restrictions, many regions are noticing a delayed RSV outbreak. Some of these regions have also noted an increase in severity of these delayed RSV outbreaks partly due to a lack of protective immunity in the community following a lack of exposure from the previous season. Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic can be implemented for controlling RSV outbreaks, including: (1) measures to reduce the spread, (2) effective vaccine development, and (3) genomic surveillance tools and computational modeling to predict the timing and severity of RSV outbreaks. These measures can help reduce the severity and prepare the health care system to deal with future RSV outbreaks by appropriate and timely allocation of health care resources.
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17
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Baraldi E, Checcucci Lisi G, Costantino C, Heinrichs JH, Manzoni P, Riccò M, Roberts M, Vassilouthis N. RSV disease in infants and young children: Can we see a brighter future? Hum Vaccin Immunother 2022; 18:2079322. [PMID: 35724340 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2079322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly contagious seasonal virus and the leading cause of Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (LRTI), including pneumonia and bronchiolitis in children. RSV-related LRTI cause approximately 3 million hospitalizations and 120,000 deaths annually among children <5 years of age. The majority of the burden of RSV occurs in previously healthy infants. Only a monoclonal antibody (mAb) has been approved against RSV infections in a restricted group, leaving an urgent unmet need for a large number of children potentially benefiting from preventive measures. Approaches under development include maternal vaccines to protect newborns, extended half-life monoclonal antibodies to provide rapid long-lasting protection, and pediatric vaccines. RSV has been identified as a major global priority but a solution to tackle this unmet need for all children has yet to be implemented. New technologies represent the avenue for effectively addressing the leading-cause of hospitalization in children <1 years old.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenio Baraldi
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, University Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Claudio Costantino
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE) "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Manzoni
- Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, University Hospital Degli Infermi, Biella, Italy
| | - Matteo Riccò
- Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Servizio di Prevenzione e Sicurezza Negli Ambienti di Lavoro (SPSAL), AUSL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
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18
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Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Pregnant Women: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. WOMEN 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/women2020016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a highly contagious viral pathogen. In infants, it is usually listed among the main causes of medical referrals and hospitalizations, particularly among newborns. While waiting for the results of early randomized controlled trials on maternal vaccination against RSV, the present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to collect available evidence on maternal RSV infections. According to the PRISMA statement, Pubmed, Embase, and pre-print archive medRxiv.og were searched for eligible studies published up to 1 April 2022. Raw data included the incidence of RSV infection among sampled pregnant women, and the occurrence of complications. Data were then pooled in a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 measure, while reporting bias was assessed by means of funnel plots and regression analysis. A total of 5 studies for 282,918 pregnancies were retrieved, with a pooled prevalence of 0.2 per 100 pregnancies and 2.5 per 100 pregnancies with respiratory tract infections. Neither maternal deaths nor miscarriages were reported. Even though detailed data were available only for 6309 pregnancies and 33 RSV cases, infant outcomes such as low birth weight and preterm delivery were rare (in both cases 0.04%), but up to 9.1% in cases where RSV diagnosis was confirmed. No substantially increased risk for preterm delivery (RR 1.395; 95%CI 0.566 to 3.434) and giving birth to a low-birth-weight infant (RR 0.509; 95%CI 0.134 to 1.924) was eventually identified. Conclusions. Although RSV is uncommonly detected among pregnant women, incident cases were associated with a relatively high share of complications. However, heterogeneous design and the quality of retrieved reports stress the need for specifically designed studies.
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Krumbein H, Kümmel LS, Fragkou PC, Thölken C, Hünerbein BL, Reiter R, Papathanasiou KA, Renz H, Skevaki C. Respiratory viral co-infections in patients with COVID-19 and associated outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Rev Med Virol 2022; 33:e2365. [PMID: 35686619 PMCID: PMC9347814 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.2365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to critically assess the published literature related to community-acquired viral co-infections and COVID-19 and to evaluate the prevalence, most identified co-pathogens, and relevant risk factors. Furthermore, we aimed to examine the clinical features and outcomes of co-infected compared to mono-infected COVID-19 patients. We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and The Cochrane Library for studies published from 1 November 2019 to 13 August 2021. We included patients of all ages and any COVID-19 severity who were screened for respiratory viral co-infection within 48 h of COVID-19 diagnosis. The main outcome was the proportion of patients with a respiratory viral co-infection. The systematic review was registered to PROSPERO (CRD42021272235). Out of 6053 initially retrieved studies, 59 studies with a total of 16,643 SARS-CoV-2 positive patients were included. The global pooled prevalence was 5.01% (95% CI 3.34%-7.27%; I2 = 95%) based on a random-effects model, with Influenza Viruses (1.54%) and Enteroviruses (1.32%) being the most prevalent pathogens. Subgroup analyses showed that co-infection was significantly higher in paediatric (9.39%) than adult (3.51%) patients (p-value = 0.02). Furthermore, co-infected patients were more likely to be dyspnoeic and the odds of fatality (OR = 1.66) were increased. Although a relatively low proportion of COVID-19 patients have a respiratory viral co-infection, our findings show that multiplex viral panel testing may be advisable in patients with compatible symptoms. Indeed, respiratory virus co-infections may be associated with adverse clinical outcomes and therefore have therapeutic and prognostic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Krumbein
- Institute of Laboratory MedicineUniversities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC)Philipps Universität MarburgGerman Center for Lung Research (DZL) MarburgMarburgGermany
| | - Lara S. Kümmel
- Institute of Laboratory MedicineUniversities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC)Philipps Universität MarburgGerman Center for Lung Research (DZL) MarburgMarburgGermany
| | - Paraskevi C. Fragkou
- Fourth Department of Internal MedicineMedical School of AthensNational and Kapodistrian University of AthensAttikon University HospitalAthensGreece
| | - Clemens Thölken
- Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and BiostatisticsMedical FacultyPhilipps University of MarburgMarburgGermany
| | - Ben L. Hünerbein
- Institute of Laboratory MedicineUniversities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC)Philipps Universität MarburgGerman Center for Lung Research (DZL) MarburgMarburgGermany
| | - Rieke Reiter
- Institute of Laboratory MedicineUniversities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC)Philipps Universität MarburgGerman Center for Lung Research (DZL) MarburgMarburgGermany
| | | | - Harald Renz
- Institute of Laboratory MedicineUniversities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC)Philipps Universität MarburgGerman Center for Lung Research (DZL) MarburgMarburgGermany
| | - Chrysanthi Skevaki
- Institute of Laboratory MedicineUniversities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC)Philipps Universität MarburgGerman Center for Lung Research (DZL) MarburgMarburgGermany
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20
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Arcangeletti MC, De Conto F, Montecchini S, Buttrini M, Maccari C, Chezzi C, Calderaro A. A Rare Case Of Sars-Cov-2 And Influenza A Virus Super-Infection. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2022; 104:115743. [PMID: 35834915 PMCID: PMC9212775 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2022.115743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Flora De Conto
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Sara Montecchini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Mirko Buttrini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Clara Maccari
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Carlo Chezzi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Adriana Calderaro
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
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21
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Sberna G, Lalle E, Valli MB, Bordi L, Garbuglia AR, Amendola A. Changes in the Circulation of Common Respiratory Pathogens among Hospitalized Patients with Influenza-like Illnesses in the Lazio Region (Italy) during Fall Season of the Past Three Years. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19105962. [PMID: 35627498 PMCID: PMC9141595 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19105962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
A descriptive analysis of common respiratory pathogens (CRPs) detected in nasopharyngeal swabs (NPSs) from hospitalized patients with influenza-like illness during the fall seasons of the past three years, 2019–2021, in the Lazio region, Italy, was conducted to assess whether or not CRP circulation changed because of COVID-19 during the fall season. The results observed in a total of 633 NPSs subjected to molecular diagnosis for CRPs by multiplex PCR assay during the autumn seasons (exactly from week 41 to week 50) were compared with each other. In 2019, in 144 NPSs, the more represented CRPs were rhinovirus/enterovirus (7.6%) and influenza A/B (4.2%). In 2020, 55 (21.6%) out of 255 NPSs resulted positive for SARS-CoV-2 and, except for one case of Legionella pneumophila, the CRPs detected were exclusively rhinovirus/enterovirus (4.7%). In 2021, among 234 NPSs, 25.6% resulted positive for SARS-CoV-2, 14.5% for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and 12.8% for rhinovirus/enterovirus. Compared with 2019, in 2020, CRP circulation was severely limited to a few cases; in 2021, instead, infections by RSV (detected also among adults), rhinovirus/enterovirus, and other respiratory pathogens were observed again, while influenza was practically absent. The comparison of the CRPs detected in the NPSs depicts a different circulation in the Lazio region during the last three fall seasons. CRP monitoring has a direct impact on the prevention and control strategies of respiratory infectious diseases, such as the non-pharmacological interventions implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Future studies should investigate the impact of specific interventions on the spread of respiratory infections.
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22
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Fomenko A, Weibel S, Moezi H, Menger K, Schmucker C, Metzendorf MI, Motschall E, Falcone V, Huzly D, Panning M, Rücker G, Hengel H. Assessing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infectivity by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Rev Med Virol 2022; 32:e2342. [PMID: 35366033 PMCID: PMC9111068 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.2342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The cornerstone of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) detection is reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) of viral RNA. As a surrogate assay SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA detection does not necessarily imply infectivity. Only virus isolation in permissive cell culture systems can indicate infectivity. Here, we review the evidence on RT‐PCR performance in detecting infectious SARS‐CoV‐2. We searched for any studies that used RT‐PCR and cell culture to determine infectious SARS‐CoV‐2 in respiratory samples. We assessed (i) diagnostic accuracy of RT‐PCR compared to cell culture as reference test, (ii) performed meta‐analysis of positive predictive values (PPV) and (iii) determined the virus isolation probabilities depending on cycle threshold (Ct) or log10 genome copies/ml using logistic regression. We included 55 studies. There is substantial statistical and clinical heterogeneity. Seven studies were included for diagnostic accuracy. Sensitivity ranged from 90% to 99% and specificity from 29% to 92%. In meta‐analysis, the PPVs varied across subgroups with different sampling times after symptom onset, with 1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0%–7%) in sampling beyond 10 days and 27% (CI, 19%–36%) to 46% (CI, 33%–60%) in subgroups that also included earlier samples. Estimates of virus isolation probability varied between 6% (CI, 0%–100%) and 50% (CI, 0%–100%) at a Ct value of 30 and between 0% (CI, 0%–22%) and 63% (CI, 0%–100%) at 5 log10 genome copies/ml. Evidence on RT‐PCR performance in detecting infectious SARS‐CoV‐2 in respiratory samples was limited. Major limitations were heterogeneity and poor reporting. RT‐PCR and cell culture protocols need further standardisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey Fomenko
- Institute of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stephanie Weibel
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, Emergency and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Helia Moezi
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, Emergency and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Kristina Menger
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, Emergency and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Christine Schmucker
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Maria-Inti Metzendorf
- Cochrane Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders Group, Institute of General Practice, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Edith Motschall
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Statistics, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Valeria Falcone
- Institute of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Daniela Huzly
- Institute of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marcus Panning
- Institute of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gerta Rücker
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Statistics, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hartmut Hengel
- Institute of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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23
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Riccò M, Ferraro P, Peruzzi S, Zaniboni A, Ranzieri S. Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs of General Practitioners from North-Eastern Italy (2021). Pediatr Rep 2022; 14:147-165. [PMID: 35466200 PMCID: PMC9036244 DOI: 10.3390/pediatric14020021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a lead cause of morbidity and hospitalizations in infants. RSV vaccines are currently under development, and preventive options are limited to monoclonal antibodies (mAb). We assessed the knowledge, attitudes and practices for RSV in a sample of general practitioners (GPs) from north-eastern Italy (2021), focusing on the risk perception for infants (age < 8 years) and its potential effectors. We administered an internet survey to 543 GPs, with a response rate of 28.9%. Knowledge status was unsatisfactory, with substantial knowledge gaps found on the epidemiology of RSV and its prevention through mAb. The main effectors of risk perception were identified as having a background in pediatrics (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 55.398 and 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 6.796−451.604), being favorable towards RSV vaccines when available (aOR: 4.728, 95% CI: 1.999−11.187), while having previously managed an RSV case (aOR: 0.114, 95% CI: 0.024−0.552) and previously recommended hospitalization for cases (aOR: 0.240, 95% CI: 0.066−0.869) were identified as negative effectors. In summary, the significant extent of knowledge gaps and the erratic risk perception, associated with the increasing occurrence in RSV infections, collectively stress the importance of appropriate information campaigns among primary care providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Riccò
- AUSL–IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Servizio di Prevenzione e Sicurezza Negli Ambienti di Lavoro (SPSAL), Local Health Unit of Reggio Emilia, I-42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +39-339-2994343 or +39-522-837587
| | - Pietro Ferraro
- Occupational Medicine Unit, Direzione Sanità, Italian Railways’ Infrastructure Division, RFI SpA, I-00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Simona Peruzzi
- AUSL–IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Laboratorio Analisi Chimico Cliniche e Microbiologiche, Ospedale Civile di Guastalla, I-42016 Guastalla, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Zaniboni
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, I-43126 Parma, Italy; (A.Z.); (S.R.)
| | - Silvia Ranzieri
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, I-43126 Parma, Italy; (A.Z.); (S.R.)
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24
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Ilyicheva TN, Netesov SV, Gureyev VN. COVID-19, Influenza, and Other Acute Respiratory Viral Infections: Etiology, Immunopathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Part 2. Other Acute Respiratory Viral Infections. MOLECULAR GENETICS, MICROBIOLOGY AND VIROLOGY : MOLEKULYARNAYA GENETIKA, MIKROBIOLOGIYA I VIRUSOLOGIYA 2022; 37:107-116. [PMID: 36589522 PMCID: PMC9790183 DOI: 10.3103/s0891416822030053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The first part of this paper presented the current knowledge on two very significant respiratory diseases with high pandemic potential, COVID-19 and influenza. The second part reviews other pathogens that cause acute respiratory viral infections, ARVI, including parainfluenza viruses, adenoviruses, pneumoviruses and specifically respiratory syncytial virus, enteroviruses, rhinoviruses, bocaviruses, and seasonal coronaviruses. The review presents modern data on the structure and replication of viruses, epidemiology and immunopathogenesis of diseases, diagnostics, preventive vaccination, and antiviral drugs. Topical issues regarding ARVI vaccination and the search for new broad-spectrum antiviral drugs are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. N. Ilyicheva
- grid.4605.70000000121896553Novosibirsk State University, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia ,grid.419755.bState Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia
| | - S. V. Netesov
- grid.4605.70000000121896553Novosibirsk State University, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - V. N. Gureyev
- grid.419755.bState Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, 630559 Koltsovo, Russia
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25
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Panatto D, Orsi A, Pennati BM, Lai PL, Mosca S, Bruzzone B, Caligiuri P, Napoli C, Bertamino E, Orsi GB, Manini I, Loconsole D, Centrone F, Pandolfi E, Ciofi Degli Atti ML, Concato C, Linardos G, Onetti Muda A, Raponi M, Piccioni L, Rizzo C, Chironna M, Icardi G. No evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome in five Italian hospitals from 1st November 2019 to 29th February 2020. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260947. [PMID: 34874956 PMCID: PMC8653811 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND On 9th January 2020, China CDC reported a novel coronavirus (later named SARS-CoV-2) as the causative agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Identifying the first appearance of virus is of epidemiological importance to tracking and mapping the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in a country. We therefore conducted a retrospective observational study to detect SARS-CoV-2 in oropharyngeal samples collected from hospitalized patients with a Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) enrolled in the DRIVE (Development of Robust and Innovative Vaccine Effectiveness) study in five Italian hospitals (CIRI-IT BIVE hospitals network) (1st November 2019 - 29th February 2020). OBJECTIVES To acquire new information on the real trend in SARS-CoV-2 infection during pandemic phase I and to determine the possible early appearance of the virus in Italy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Samples were tested for influenza [RT-PCR assay (A/H1N1, A/H3N2, B/Yam, B/Vic)] in accordance with the DRIVE study protocol. Subsequently, swabs underwent molecular testing for SARS-COV-2. [one-step real-time multiplex retro-transcription (RT) PCR]. RESULTS In the 1683 samples collected, no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 was found. Moreover, 28.3% (477/1683) of swabs were positive for influenza viruses, the majority being type A (358 vs 119 type B). A/H3N2 was predominant among influenza A viruses (55%); among influenza B viruses, B/Victoria was prevalent. The highest influenza incidence rate was reported in patients aged 0-17 years (40.3%) followed by those aged 18-64 years (24.4%) and ≥65 years (14.8%). CONCLUSIONS In Italy, some studies have shown the early circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in northern regions, those most severely affected during phase I of the pandemic. In central and southern regions, by contrast no early circulation of the virus was registered. These results are in line with ours. These findings highlight the need to continue to carry out retrospective studies, in order to understand the epidemiology of the novel coronavirus, to better identify the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in comparison with other acute respiratory illnesses (ARI), and to evaluate the real burden of COVID-19 on the healthcare system.
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MESH Headings
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- COVID-19/diagnosis
- COVID-19/virology
- Female
- Hospitals
- Humans
- Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/genetics
- Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/isolation & purification
- Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype/genetics
- Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype/isolation & purification
- Influenza B virus/genetics
- Influenza B virus/isolation & purification
- Influenza, Human/epidemiology
- Influenza, Human/pathology
- Influenza, Human/virology
- Italy/epidemiology
- Male
- Middle Aged
- RNA, Viral/genetics
- RNA, Viral/metabolism
- Retrospective Studies
- SARS-CoV-2/genetics
- SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/epidemiology
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/pathology
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/virology
- Young Adult
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Panatto
- Interuniversity Research Center on Influenza and Other Transmissible
Infections (CIRI-IT), Genoa, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa,
Italy
| | - Andrea Orsi
- Interuniversity Research Center on Influenza and Other Transmissible
Infections (CIRI-IT), Genoa, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa,
Italy
- Policlinico San Martino Hospital, Genoa, Italy
| | - Beatrice Marina Pennati
- Interuniversity Research Center on Influenza and Other Transmissible
Infections (CIRI-IT), Genoa, Italy
| | - Piero Luigi Lai
- Interuniversity Research Center on Influenza and Other Transmissible
Infections (CIRI-IT), Genoa, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa,
Italy
| | - Stefano Mosca
- Interuniversity Research Center on Influenza and Other Transmissible
Infections (CIRI-IT), Genoa, Italy
| | | | | | - Christian Napoli
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine,
University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Battista Orsi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University La
Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Manini
- Interuniversity Research Center on Influenza and Other Transmissible
Infections (CIRI-IT), Genoa, Italy
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena,
Siena, Italy
| | - Daniela Loconsole
- Hygiene Section, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology,
University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Francesca Centrone
- Hygiene Section, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology,
University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Maria Chironna
- Hygiene Section, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology,
University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Icardi
- Interuniversity Research Center on Influenza and Other Transmissible
Infections (CIRI-IT), Genoa, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa,
Italy
- Policlinico San Martino Hospital, Genoa, Italy
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26
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Lumley SF, Richens N, Lees E, Cregan J, Kalimeris E, Oakley S, Morgan M, Segal S, Dawson M, Walker AS, Eyre DW, Crook DW, Beer S, Novak A, Stoesser NE, Matthews PC. Changes in paediatric respiratory infections at a UK teaching hospital 2016-2021; impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. J Infect 2021; 84:40-47. [PMID: 34757137 PMCID: PMC8591975 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Objective To describe the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the incidence of paediatric viral respiratory tract infection in Oxfordshire, UK. Methods Data on paediatric Emergency Department (ED) attendances (0-15 years inclusive), respiratory virus testing, vital signs and mortality at Oxford University Hospitals were summarised using descriptive statistics. Results Between 1-March-2016 and 30-July-2021, 155,056 ED attendances occurred and 7,195 respiratory virus PCRs were performed. Detection of all pathogens was suppressed during the first national lockdown. Rhinovirus and adenovirus rates increased when schools reopened September-December 2020, then fell, before rising in March-May 2021. The usual winter RSV peak did not occur in 2020/21, with an inter-seasonal rise (32/1,000 attendances in 0-3 yr olds) in July 2021. Influenza remained suppressed throughout. A higher paediatric early warning score (PEWS) was seen for attendees with adenovirus during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic (p = 0.04, Mann-Witney U test), no other differences in PEWS were seen. Conclusions SARS-CoV-2 caused major changes in the incidence of paediatric respiratory viral infection in Oxfordshire, with implications for clinical service demand, testing strategies, timing of palivizumab RSV prophylaxis, and highlighting the need to understand which public health interventions are most effective for preventing respiratory virus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila F Lumley
- NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK; Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Medawar Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK.
| | | | - Emily Lees
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford UK
| | - Jack Cregan
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Medawar Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK
| | | | - Sarah Oakley
- NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK
| | - Marcus Morgan
- NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK
| | - Shelley Segal
- NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK
| | - Moya Dawson
- NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK
| | - A Sarah Walker
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Medawar Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - David W Eyre
- NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Derrick W Crook
- NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK; Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Medawar Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sally Beer
- NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK
| | - Alex Novak
- NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK
| | - Nicole E Stoesser
- NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK; Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Medawar Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Philippa C Matthews
- NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK; Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Medawar Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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27
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Hao M, Zhu Y, Fan S, Wu X, Hu J, Wu K, Liu Z, Xi J, Zhao Y, Zhang T, Xia J, Wu C, Chen J. Detection of human respiratory viruses among hospitalized children aged ≤ 5 years in Wuhan (China), from January to May 2020. J Infect 2021; 84:418-467. [PMID: 34756917 PMCID: PMC8553371 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mengchan Hao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens, Center for Biosafety Mega Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yaqi Zhu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Sanling Fan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens, Center for Biosafety Mega Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xiaoxue Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Juefu Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens, Center for Biosafety Mega Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Ke Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens, Center for Biosafety Mega Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhi Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Jinou Xi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Yaoyao Zhao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Tianzhu Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Jianbo Xia
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Chunchen Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China.
| | - Jianjun Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens, Center for Biosafety Mega Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China.
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28
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Azzari C, Baraldi E, Bonanni P, Bozzola E, Coscia A, Lanari M, Manzoni P, Mazzone T, Sandri F, Checcucci Lisi G, Parisi S, Piacentini G, Mosca F. Epidemiology and prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infections in children in Italy. Ital J Pediatr 2021; 47:198. [PMID: 34600591 PMCID: PMC8487331 DOI: 10.1186/s13052-021-01148-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading global cause of respiratory infections in infants and the second most frequent cause of death during the first year of life. This highly contagious seasonal virus is responsible for approximately 3 million hospitalizations and 120,000 deaths annually among children under the age of 5 years. Bronchiolitis is the most common severe manifestation; however, RSV infections are associated with an increased long-term risk for recurring wheezing and the development of asthma. There is an unmet need for new agents and a universal strategy to prevent RSV infections starting at the time of birth. RSV is active between November and April in Italy, and prevention strategies must ensure that all neonates and infants under 1 year of age are protected during the endemic season, regardless of gestational age at birth and timing of birth relative to the epidemic season. Approaches under development include maternal vaccines to protect neonates during their first months, monoclonal antibodies to provide immediate protection lasting up to 5 months, and pediatric vaccines for longer-lasting protection. Meanwhile, improvements are needed in infection surveillance and reporting to improve case identification and better characterize seasonal trends in infections along the Italian peninsula. Rapid diagnostic tests and confirmatory laboratory testing should be used for the differential diagnosis of respiratory pathogens in children. Stakeholders and policymakers must develop access pathways once new agents are available to reduce the burden of infections and hospitalizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Azzari
- Department of Health Sciences, Section of Pediatrics, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Eugenio Baraldi
- Department of Woman's and Child's Health, University Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Paolo Bonanni
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Elena Bozzola
- Pediatric Disease Unit, Bambino Gesù Children Hospital IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Coscia
- Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, Complex Structure Neonatology Unit, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Marcello Lanari
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studioru, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paolo Manzoni
- Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, University Hospital Degli Infermi, Biella, Italy
| | | | - Fabrizio Sandri
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Maggiore Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | - Giorgio Piacentini
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Division, University Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Fabio Mosca
- NICU Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.,Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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29
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Di Mattia G, Nenna R, Mancino E, Rizzo V, Pierangeli A, Villani A, Midulla F. During the COVID-19 pandemic where has respiratory syncytial virus gone? Pediatr Pulmonol 2021; 56:3106-3109. [PMID: 34273135 PMCID: PMC8441855 DOI: 10.1002/ppul.25582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The diffusion of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the implementation of restrictive measures led to a drastic reduction of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) diffusion. Few RSV cases have been detected worldwide, even after the removal of the restrictions. We review the current literature and present possible explanations on why there has been a significant reduction of RSV detection during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also hypothesize what may happen when RSV begins to circulate again. The increase of an immunologically naïve population, with infants born from mothers who have not reinforced their immunity to RSV, could lead to greater RSV epidemics in the coming seasons. It is crucial to prepare the scientific community and to keep RSV surveillance active to avoid dramatic consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Di Mattia
- Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaella Nenna
- Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrica Mancino
- Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Rizzo
- Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Pierangeli
- Laboratory of Virology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Villani
- Pediatric Emergency Department, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Health Care (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Midulla
- Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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De Francesco MA, Pollara C, Gargiulo F, Giacomelli M, Caruso A. Circulation of Respiratory Viruses in Hospitalized Adults before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brescia, Italy: A Retrospective Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18189525. [PMID: 34574450 PMCID: PMC8469422 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18189525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Different preventive public health measures were adopted globally to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2, such as hand hygiene and the use of masks, travel restrictions, social distance actions such as the closure of schools and workplaces, case and contact tracing, quarantine and lockdown. These measures, in particular physical distancing and the use of masks, might have contributed to containing the spread of other respiratory viruses that occurs principally by contact and droplet routes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of different respiratory viruses (influenza viruses A and B, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza viruses 1, 2, 3 and 4, rhinovirus, adenovirus, metapneumovirus and human coronaviruses) after one year of the pandemic. Furthermore, another aim was to evaluate the possible impact of these non-pharmaceutical measures on the circulation of seasonal respiratory viruses. This single center study was conducted between January 2017-February 2020 (pre-pandemic period) and March 2020-May 2021 (pandemic period). All adults >18 years with respiratory symptoms and tested for respiratory pathogens were included in the study. Nucleic acid detection of all respiratory viruses was performed by multiplex real time PCR. Our results show that the test positivity for influenza A and B, metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus and human coronaviruses decreased with statistical significance during the pandemic. Contrary to this, for adenovirus the decrease was not statistically significant. Conversely, a statistically significant increase was detected for rhinovirus. Coinfections between different respiratory viruses were observed during the pre-pandemic period, while the only coinfection detected during pandemic was between SARS-CoV-2 and rhinovirus. To understand how the preventive strategies against SARS-CoV-2 might alter the transmission dynamics and epidemic patterns of respiratory viruses is fundamental to guide future preventive recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Antonia De Francesco
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy;
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, ASST-Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (C.P.); (F.G.); (M.G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-030-3995860
| | - Caterina Pollara
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, ASST-Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (C.P.); (F.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Franco Gargiulo
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, ASST-Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (C.P.); (F.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Mauro Giacomelli
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, ASST-Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (C.P.); (F.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy;
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, ASST-Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (C.P.); (F.G.); (M.G.)
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Kiseleva I, Ksenafontov A. COVID-19 Shuts Doors to Flu but Keeps Them Open to Rhinoviruses. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10080733. [PMID: 34439965 PMCID: PMC8389621 DOI: 10.3390/biology10080733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Ten years have passed since the beginning of the H1N1pdm09 flu pandemic. No sooner had humanity recovered from its consequences than a new attack came—the COVID-19 pandemic. What happens to other respiratory infectious diseases during a global disaster such as the COVID-19 pandemic? The pandemic brought about by the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus has disrupted many well-established epidemiological and pathogenetic relationships, as well as mechanisms affecting infections with other respiratory viruses. The level of circulation of many respiratory pathogens has changed significantly. For instance, global influenza activity is at much lower levels than expected. In many regions, the influenza season has not started. Intriguingly, the COVID-19 pandemic did not substantially affect the spread of human rhinoviruses. In this review, the main properties of epidemiologically significant respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, influenza virus, and human rhinovirus are described. Abstract It is well known that rhinoviruses are distributed across the globe and are the most common cause of the common cold in all age groups. Rhinoviruses are widely considered to be harmless because they are generally perceived as respiratory viruses only capable of causing mild disease. However, they may also infect the lower respiratory tract, inducing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and exacerbations of asthma, bronchiolitis, etc. The role of rhinoviruses in pathogenesis and the epidemiological process is underestimated, and they need to be intensively studied. In the light of recent data, it is now known that rhinoviruses could be one of the key epidemiological barriers that may influence the spread of influenza and novel coronaviruses. It has been reported that endemic human rhinoviruses delayed the development of the H1N1pdm09 influenza pandemic through viral interference. Moreover, human rhinoviruses have been suggested to block SARS-CoV-2 replication in the airways by triggering an interferon response. In this review, we summarized the main biological characteristics of genetically distinct viruses such as rhinoviruses, influenza viruses, and SARS-CoV-2 in an attempt to illuminate their main discrepancies and similarities. We hope that this comparative analysis will help us to better understand in which direction research in this area should move.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Kiseleva
- Department of Virology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 197376 Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Correspondence:
| | - Andrey Ksenafontov
- Department of Etiology and Epidemiology, Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, 197376 Saint Petersburg, Russia;
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Application and Perspectives of MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry in Clinical Microbiology Laboratories. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9071539. [PMID: 34361974 PMCID: PMC8307939 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9071539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Early diagnosis of severe infections requires of a rapid and reliable diagnosis to initiate appropriate treatment, while avoiding unnecessary antimicrobial use and reducing associated morbidities and healthcare costs. It is a fact that conventional methods usually require more than 24–48 h to culture and profile bacterial species. Mass spectrometry (MS) is an analytical technique that has emerged as a powerful tool in clinical microbiology for identifying peptides and proteins, which makes it a promising tool for microbial identification. Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight MS (MALDI–TOF MS) offers a cost- and time-effective alternative to conventional methods, such as bacterial culture and even 16S rRNA gene sequencing, for identifying viruses, bacteria and fungi and detecting virulence factors and mechanisms of resistance. This review provides an overview of the potential applications and perspectives of MS in clinical microbiology laboratories and proposes its use as a first-line method for microbial identification and diagnosis.
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Zhang Y, Su L, Chen Y, Yu S, Zhang D, Mao H, Fang L. Etiology and clinical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and other human coronaviruses among children in Zhejiang Province, China 2017-2019. Virol J 2021; 18:89. [PMID: 33931105 PMCID: PMC8085659 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01562-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerging has put global public health institutes on high alert. Little is known about the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of human coronaviruses infections in relation to infections with other respiratory viruses. METHODS From February 2017 to December 2019, 3660 respiratory samples submitted to Zhejiang Children Hospital with acute respiratory symptoms were tested for four human coronaviruses RNA by a novel two-tube multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays. Samples were also screened for the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 by reverse transcription-PCR analysis. RESULTS Coronavirus RNAs were detected in 144 (3.93%) specimens: HCoV-HKU1 in 38 specimens, HCoV-NL63 in 62 specimens, HCoV-OC43 in 38 specimens and HCoV-229E in 8 specimens. Genomes for SARS-CoV-2 were absent in all specimens by RT-PCR analysis during the study period. The majority of HCoV infections occurred during fall months. No significant differences in gender, sample type, year were seen across species. 37.5 to 52.6% of coronaviruses detected were in specimens testing positive for other respiratory viruses. Phylogenic analysis identified that Zhejiang coronaviruses belong to multiple lineages of the coronaviruses circulating in other countries and areas. CONCLUSION Common HCoVs may have annual peaks of circulation in fall months in the Zhejiang province, China. Genetic relatedness to the coronaviruses in other regions suggests further surveillance on human coronaviruses in clinical samples are clearly needed to understand their patterns of activity and role in the emergence of novel coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjun Zhang
- Department of Laboratory, School of Medical Technology, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Center of Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bincheng Road, Hangzhou, 310051, China
| | - Lingxuan Su
- Department of Laboratory, School of Medical Technology, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Yin Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Center of Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bincheng Road, Hangzhou, 310051, China
| | - Sicong Yu
- Department of Laboratory, School of Medical Technology, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Haiyan Mao
- Zhejiang Provincial Center of Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bincheng Road, Hangzhou, 310051, China
| | - Lei Fang
- Zhejiang Provincial Center of Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bincheng Road, Hangzhou, 310051, China.
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Galli C, Pellegrinelli L, Bubba L, Primache V, Anselmi G, Delbue S, Signorini L, Binda S, Cereda D, Gramegna M, Pariani E. When the COVID-19 Pandemic Surges during Influenza Season: Lessons Learnt from the Sentinel Laboratory-Based Surveillance of Influenza-Like Illness in Lombardy during the 2019-2020 Season. Viruses 2021; 13:v13040695. [PMID: 33923819 PMCID: PMC8073979 DOI: 10.3390/v13040695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper outlines the role of Lombardy’s regional influenza reference laboratory (Northern Italy) in the surveillance of influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) in monitoring SARS-CoV-2 circulation by analyzing 631 consecutive nasopharyngeal swabs (NPSs) collected from ILI outpatients by sentinel physicians during the 2019–2020 season. The samples were tested by specific real-time RT-PCRs targeting SARS-CoV-2, influenza viruses, and RSVs. Results: Of these NPSs, 31% tested positive for influenza viruses, 10% for SARS-CoV-2, and 7% for RSV. No coinfections were detected. Influenza viruses and RSVs circulated throughout the surveillance period until the end of February (week 9-2020), when they suddenly ceased to circulate seven weeks earlier than during the previous five influenza seasons. After the first detection of SARS-CoV-2 in our ILI outpatients at the beginning of March (week 10-2020), SARS-CoV-2 remained the only virus identified throughout the surveillance period. Patients ≥ 65 years had a 3.2-fold greater risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2, while school-age children (5–14 years) and children < 5 years proved to be the age groups most at risk of contracting influenza viruses and RSV, respectively. Our experience demonstrates that laboratory-based ILI surveillance networks are essential for identifying SARS-CoV-2 cases that would otherwise remain undetected, in order to stop their spread within our communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Galli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; (C.G.); (L.P.); (L.B.); (V.P.); (G.A.); (S.B.)
| | - Laura Pellegrinelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; (C.G.); (L.P.); (L.B.); (V.P.); (G.A.); (S.B.)
| | - Laura Bubba
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; (C.G.); (L.P.); (L.B.); (V.P.); (G.A.); (S.B.)
| | - Valeria Primache
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; (C.G.); (L.P.); (L.B.); (V.P.); (G.A.); (S.B.)
| | - Giovanni Anselmi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; (C.G.); (L.P.); (L.B.); (V.P.); (G.A.); (S.B.)
| | - Serena Delbue
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; (S.D.); (L.S.)
| | - Lucia Signorini
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; (S.D.); (L.S.)
| | - Sandro Binda
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; (C.G.); (L.P.); (L.B.); (V.P.); (G.A.); (S.B.)
| | - Danilo Cereda
- DG Welfare, UO Prevenzione, Lombardy Region, 20124 Milan, Italy; (D.C.); (M.G.)
| | - Maria Gramegna
- DG Welfare, UO Prevenzione, Lombardy Region, 20124 Milan, Italy; (D.C.); (M.G.)
| | - Elena Pariani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; (C.G.); (L.P.); (L.B.); (V.P.); (G.A.); (S.B.)
- Interuniversity Research Center on Influenza and Other Transmissible Infections (CIRI-IT), 16132 Genoa, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-02-5031-5132
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Tran VV, Tran NHT, Hwang HS, Chang M. Development strategies of conducting polymer-based electrochemical biosensors for virus biomarkers: Potential for rapid COVID-19 detection. Biosens Bioelectron 2021; 182:113192. [PMID: 33819902 PMCID: PMC7992312 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2021.113192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Rapid, accurate, portable, and large-scale diagnostic technologies for the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) are crucial for controlling the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The current standard technologies, i.e., reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, serological assays, and computed tomography (CT) exhibit practical limitations and challenges in case of massive and rapid testing. Biosensors, particularly electrochemical conducting polymer (CP)-based biosensors, are considered as potential alternatives owing to their large advantages such as high selectivity and sensitivity, rapid detection, low cost, simplicity, flexibility, long self-life, and ease of use. Therefore, CP-based biosensors can serve as multisensors, mobile biosensors, and wearable biosensors, facilitating the development of point-of-care (POC) systems and home-use biosensors for COVID-19 detection. However, the application of these biosensors for COVID-19 entails several challenges related to their degradation, low crystallinity, charge transport properties, and weak interaction with biomarkers. To overcome these problems, this study provides scientific evidence for the potential applications of CP-based electrochemical biosensors in COVID-19 detection based on their applications for the detection of various biomarkers such as DNA/RNA, proteins, whole viruses, and antigens. We then propose promising strategies for the development of CP-based electrochemical biosensors for COVID-19 detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinh Van Tran
- Alan G. MacDiarmid Energy Research Institute, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, South Korea
| | - Nhu Hoa Thi Tran
- Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, University of Science, HoChiMinh City 700000, Viet Nam; Vietnam National University, HoChiMinh City 700000, Viet Nam
| | - Hye Suk Hwang
- Alan G. MacDiarmid Energy Research Institute, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, South Korea.
| | - Mincheol Chang
- Alan G. MacDiarmid Energy Research Institute, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, South Korea; Department of Polymer Engineering, Graduate School, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, South Korea; School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, South Korea.
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Calderaro A, Buttrini M, Montecchini S, Piccolo G, Martinelli M, Dell’Anna ML, Di Maio A, Arcangeletti MC, Maccari C, De Conto F, Chezzi C. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Infectious Agents in Lower Respiratory Tract Samples Belonging to Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Units of a Tertiary-Care Hospital, Located in an Epidemic Area, during the Italian Lockdown. Microorganisms 2021; 9:185. [PMID: 33467079 PMCID: PMC7830127 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9010185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was the detection of infectious agents from lower respiratory tract (LRT) samples in order to describe their distribution in patients with severe acute respiratory failure and hospitalized in intensive care units (ICU) in an Italian tertiary-care hospital. LRT samples from 154 patients admitted to ICU from 27 February to 10 May 2020 were prospectively examined for respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, bacteria and/or fungi. SARS-CoV-2 was revealed in 90 patients (58.4%, 72 males, mean age 65 years). No significant difference was observed between SARS-CoV-2 positives and SARS-CoV-2 negatives with regard to sex, age and bacterial and/or fungal infections. Nonetheless, fungi were more frequently detected among SARS-CoV-2 positives (44/54, 81.4%, p = 0.0053). Candida albicans was the overall most frequently isolated agent, followed by Enterococcus faecalis among SARS-CoV-2 positives and Staphylococcus aureus among SARS-CoV-2 negatives. Overall mortality rate was 40.4%, accounting for 53 deaths: 37 among SARS-CoV-2 positives (mean age 69 years) and 16 among SARS-CoV-2 negatives (mean age 63 years). This study highlights the different patterns of infectious agents between the two patient categories: fungi were prevalently involved among SARS-CoV-2-positive patients and bacteria among the SARS-CoV-2-negative patients. The different therapies and the length of the ICU stay could have influenced these different patterns of infectious agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Calderaro
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (M.B.); (G.P.); (M.C.A.); (C.M.); (F.D.C.); (C.C.)
| | - Mirko Buttrini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (M.B.); (G.P.); (M.C.A.); (C.M.); (F.D.C.); (C.C.)
| | - Sara Montecchini
- Unit of Clinical Virology, University Hospital of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (S.M.); (M.L.D.)
| | - Giovanna Piccolo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (M.B.); (G.P.); (M.C.A.); (C.M.); (F.D.C.); (C.C.)
| | - Monica Martinelli
- Unit of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (M.M.); (A.D.M.)
| | - Maria Loretana Dell’Anna
- Unit of Clinical Virology, University Hospital of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (S.M.); (M.L.D.)
| | - Alan Di Maio
- Unit of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (M.M.); (A.D.M.)
| | - Maria Cristina Arcangeletti
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (M.B.); (G.P.); (M.C.A.); (C.M.); (F.D.C.); (C.C.)
| | - Clara Maccari
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (M.B.); (G.P.); (M.C.A.); (C.M.); (F.D.C.); (C.C.)
| | - Flora De Conto
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (M.B.); (G.P.); (M.C.A.); (C.M.); (F.D.C.); (C.C.)
| | - Carlo Chezzi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (M.B.); (G.P.); (M.C.A.); (C.M.); (F.D.C.); (C.C.)
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