The epidemiological features of respiratory tract infection using the multiplex panels detection during COVID-19 pandemic in Shandong province, China

Abstract

High attention has been paid to the etiological tracing of respiratory tract infection (RTI) since the advent of COVID-19. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the epidemiological features of pathogens in RTI, especially during COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 7668 patients with RTI were included from Qilu Hospital of Shandong University between March 2019 and December 2021. The respiratory tract specimens were detected using a commercial multiplex PCR-based panel assay for 13 common respiratory pathogens. Compared with 2019, the positive rate of pathogen detection from January 2020 to December 2021 was significantly lower, especially the detection of Flu-A. The positive rate of respiratory pathogen strains was 40.18% during COVID-19 pandemic, and a total of 297 cases (4.69%) of mixed infection with two or more pathogens were detected. The positive rates of infection were different among different age groups, with higher incidence of RSV in infancy and toddler group, MP infection in children and teenager group, and HRV infection in adult patients. Moreover, Flu-A and Flu-B were higher in winter, and MP and RSV were higher in spring, autumn and winter. The pathogens such as ADV, BOCA, PIV, and COV were detected without significant seasonal distribution. In conclusions, pathogens of RTI may vary by age and season, regardless of gender. During the COVID-19 epidemic, blocking transmission routes could help reduce the incidence of RTI. The current prevalence of pathogens is of great significance for clinical prevention, diagnosis and treatment of RTI.

Respiratory Pathogen Dynamics in Community Fever Cases — Jiangsu Province, China (2023-2024)

“…the ct value of simple infection HSV was larger, and the difference in Ct value was statistically signi cant. The study data was compared with respiratory pathogen surveillance data from Beijing [13] and Jinan [14] during the NPIS. In Beijing, the total positive detection rate was 10.97% during the NPIS period.…”

“…The susceptible population of respiratory infectious diseases is wide, the transmission route is easy to achieve, and often caused by a variety of pathogens, and the infection situation is complex and often overlapping, so the detection work is often very tedious [4] . Currently, there is more research in China on monitoring and controlling novel coronaviruses and in uenza viruses [5][6] , with less focus on monitoring other pathogens. This study conducts multi-pathogen testing on feverish populations in Xuanwu District, Nanjing City, establishes a local respiratory pathogen spectrum, understands the epidemiological patterns of pathogens, and provides more basis for the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory infections in patients with unknown pathogens in clinical practice.…”