Epidemiology of respiratory pathogens in children with lower respiratory tract infections in Shanghai, China, from 2013 to 2015.

This study aimed to explore the epidemiology of pathogens in children who were hospitalized with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) at the Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Children aged less than 18 years who were hospitalized with LRTIs were recruited from January 2013 to December 2015. Respiratory specimens were collected for the detection of common respiratory viruses, atypical bacteria and bacteria using current laboratory diagnostic tests. The epidemiological characteristics of the respiratory pathogens were analysed. Of the 10 123 specimens obtained from the patients, 5966 (58.7%) were positive for at least one pathogen. Mycoplasma pneumoniae was the most commonly detected pathogen (15.7%), followed by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (13.9%). Co-infections were found in 11.4% of patients. Of these co-infections, viral-bacterial co-infections were the most common. The detection rates for the respiratory pathogens varied considerably by age. RSV was the most common pathogen in children aged less than 24 months. Clear seasonal peaks were observed for RSV, M. pneumoniae, para-influenza virus (PIV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV), Moraxella catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenzae infections. Our findings demonstrate specific epidemiological patterns in children with lower respiratory tract infections in Shanghai, China. PMID: 29279451 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tags: Jpn J Infect Dis Source Type: research