scholarly journals Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses Involved in Severe Acute Respiratory Disease in Northern Italy during the Pandemic and Postpandemic Period (2009–2011)

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Pariani ◽  
Marianna Martinelli ◽  
Marta Canuti ◽  
Seyed Mohammad Jazaeri Farsani ◽  
Bas B. Oude Munnink ◽  
...  

Since 2009 pandemic, international health authorities recommended monitoring severe and complicated cases of respiratory disease, that is, severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We evaluated the proportion of SARI/ARDS cases and deaths due to influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 infection and the impact of other respiratory viruses during pandemic and postpandemic period (2009–2011) in northern Italy; additionally we searched for unknown viruses in those cases for which diagnosis remained negative. 206 respiratory samples were collected from SARI/ARDS cases and analyzed by real-time RT-PCR/PCR to investigate influenza viruses and other common respiratory pathogens; also, a virus discovery technique (VIDISCA-454) was applied on those samples tested negative to all pathogens. Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus was detected in 58.3% of specimens, with a case fatality rate of 11.3%. The impact of other respiratory viruses was 19.4%, and the most commonly detected viruses were human rhinovirus/enterovirus and influenza A(H3N2). VIDISCA-454 enabled the identification of one previously undiagnosed measles infection. Nearly 22% of SARI/ARDS cases did not obtain a definite diagnosis. In clinical practice, great efforts should be dedicated to improving the diagnosis of severe respiratory disease; the introduction of innovative molecular technologies, as VIDISCA-454, will certainly help in reducing such “diagnostic gap.”

2011 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 405-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Luiza Moretti ◽  
Verônica Sinkoc ◽  
Luis Gustavo de Oliveira Cardoso ◽  
Gema Jesus de Camargo ◽  
Luis Felipe Bachur ◽  
...  

INTRODUCTION: The case definition of influenza-like illness (ILI) is a powerful epidemiological tool during influenza epidemics. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the impact of two definitions used as epidemiological tools, in adults and children, during the influenza A H1N1 epidemic. Patients were included if they had upper respiratory samples tested for influenza by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction during two periods, using the ILI definition (coughing + temperature ≤ 38ºC) in period 1, and the definition of severe acute respiratory infection (ARS) (coughing + temperature ≤ 38ºC and dyspnoea) in period 2. RESULTS: The study included 366 adults and 147 children, covering 243 cases of ILI and 270 cases of ARS. Laboratory confirmed cases of influenza were higher in adults (50%) than in children (21.6%) ( p < 0.0001) and influenza infection was more prevalent in the ILI definition (53%) than ARS (24.4%) (p < 0.0001). Adults reported more chills and myalgia than children (p = 0.0001). Oseltamivir was administered in 58% and 46% of adults and children with influenza A H1N1, respectively. The influenza A H1N1 case fatality rate was 7% in adults and 8.3% in children. The mean time from onset of illness until antiviral administration was 4 days. CONCLUSIONS: The modification of ILI to ARS definition resulted in less accuracy in influenza diagnosis and did not improve the appropriate time and use of antiviral medication.


Author(s):  
Maria Antonia De Francesco ◽  
Caterina Pollara ◽  
Franco Gargiulo ◽  
Mauro Giacomelli ◽  
Arnaldo Caruso

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.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shirley Masse ◽  
Lisandru Capai ◽  
Alessandra Falchi

Background. The current study aims to describe the demographical and clinical characteristics of elderly nursing home (NH) residents with acute respiratory infections (ARIs) during four winter seasons (2013/2014–2016/2017), as well as the microbiological etiology of these infections. Methods. Seventeen NHs with at least one ARI resident in Corsica, France, were included. An ARI resident was defined as a resident developing a sudden onset of any constitutional symptoms in addition to any respiratory signs. Nasopharyngeal swabs from ARI residents were screened for the presence of 21 respiratory agents, including seasonal influenza viruses. Results. Of the 107 ARI residents enrolled from NHs, 61 (57%) were positive for at least one of the 21 respiratory pathogens. Forty-one (38.3%) of the 107 ARI residents had influenza: 38 (92%) were positive for influenza A (100% A(H3N2)) and three (8%) for influenza B/Victoria. Axillary fever (≥38°C) was significantly more common among patients infected with influenza A(H3N2). Conclusion. The circulation of seasonal respiratory viruses other than influenza A(H3N2) seems to be sporadic among elderly NH residents. Investigating the circulation of respiratory viruses in nonwinter seasons seems to be important in order to understand better the dynamic of their year-round circulation in NHs.


2015 ◽  
Vol 144 (8) ◽  
pp. 1579-1583
Author(s):  
J. Y. WONG ◽  
P. WU ◽  
E. H. Y. LAU ◽  
T. K. TSANG ◽  
V. J. FANG ◽  
...  

SUMMARYDuring the early stage of an epidemic, timely and reliable estimation of the severity of infections are important for predicting the impact that the influenza viruses will have in the population. We obtained age-specific deaths and hospitalizations for patients with laboratory-confirmed H1N1pdm09 infections from June 2009 to December 2009 in Hong Kong. We retrospectively obtained the real-time estimates of the hospitalization fatality risk (HFR), using crude estimation or allowing for right-censoring for final status in some patients. Models accounting for right-censoring performed better than models without adjustments. The risk of deaths in hospitalized patients with confirmed H1N1pdm09 increased with age. Reliable estimates of the HFR could be obtained before the peak of the first wave of H1N1pdm09 in young and middle-aged adults but after the peak in the elderly. In the next influenza pandemic, timely estimation of the HFR will contribute to risk assessment and disease control.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (31) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ainara Mira-Iglesias ◽  
F Xavier López-Labrador ◽  
Víctor Baselga-Moreno ◽  
Miguel Tortajada-Girbés ◽  
Juan Mollar-Maseres ◽  
...  

Introduction Influenza immunisation is recommended for elderly people each season. The influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) varies annually due to influenza viruses evolving and the vaccine composition. Aim To estimate, in inpatients ≥ 60 years old, the 2017/18 trivalent IVE, overall, by vaccine type and by strain. The impact of vaccination in any of the two previous seasons (2016/17 and 2015/16) on current (2017/18) IVE was also explored. Methods This was a multicentre prospective observational study within the Valencia Hospital Surveillance Network for the Study of Influenza and Respiratory Viruses Disease (VAHNSI, Spain). The test-negative design was applied taking laboratory-confirmed influenza as outcome and vaccination status as main exposure. Information about potential confounders was obtained from clinical registries and/or by interviewing patients; vaccine information was only ascertained by registries. Results Overall, 2017/18 IVE was 9.9% (95% CI: −15.5 to 29.6%), and specifically, 48.3% (95% CI: 13.5% to 69.1%), −29.9% (95% CI: −79.1% to 5.8%) and 25.7% (95% CI: −8.8% to 49.3%) against A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) and B/Yamagata lineage, respectively. For the adjuvanted and non-adjuvanted vaccines, overall IVE was 10.0% (95% CI: −24.4% to 34.9%) and 7.8% (95% CI: −23.1% to 31.0%) respectively. Prior vaccination significantly protected against influenza B/Yamagata lineage (IVE: 50.2%; 95% CI: 2.3% to 74.6%) in patients not vaccinated in the current season. For those repeatedly vaccinated against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, IVE was 46.4% (95% CI: 6.8% to 69.2%). Conclusion Our data revealed low vaccine effectiveness against influenza in hospitalised patients ≥60 years old in 2017/18. Prior vaccination protected against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and B/Yamagata-lineage.


2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (09) ◽  
pp. 664-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Nieto- Guevara ◽  
Nestor Sosa ◽  
Mariana Garcia ◽  
Alex Martinez ◽  
Marlene Castillo

Introduction: Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) was identified as the major febrile respiratory illness worldwide during the year 2009.  We present a report of its clinical and epidemiological characteristics in children and adults in Panama.  Methodology: A descriptive study from the database of the Gorgas Memorial Institute is presented.   We included patients with severe acute respiratory infection in whom a nasopharyngeal swab was positive by real-time RT-PCR for 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic virus and negative for seasonal influenza A H1 and H3. Results: From 26 April 2009 to 11 January 2010, confirmed cases of pandemic 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) reached 806. The overall incident rate was 23.35 cases of pandemic influenza per 100,000 habitants, with the highest incidence found in the age group between 10 to 14 years of age (58.67 cases per 100,000 habitants).  The median age for the cases was 13 years (ages ranging from one day to 88 years) and 71% were from the Panama City Metropolitan Area.  The male/female ratio was 1:1 and 90% were managed as out-patients.   An influenza-like syndrome was the presenting diagnosis in 99% of the cases.  Fever and cough were the most frequent symptoms reported in all age groups. The case fatality rate was 0.3 cases per 100,000 habitants. Conclusion: The 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak affected mainly the pediatric population, had a low case fatality rate, and was the predominant virus circulating in Panama during the 2009/2010 flu season


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Asmae Lamrani Hanchi ◽  
Morad Guennouni ◽  
Meriem Rachidi ◽  
Toufik Benhoumich ◽  
Hind Bennani ◽  
...  

Sever acute respiratory infections (SARIs) are a public health issue that are common in children and are associated with an important morbidity and mortality rate worldwide. Although SARI are mainly caused by viruses, they are still a cause of antibiotic overuse. The use of molecular methods especially real-time multiplex PCR allowed to detect a wide range of respiratory viruses and their subtype as well as some atypical bacteria. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of respiratory pathogens detected in children admitted with SARI and to highlight the role of real-time multiplex PCR in the rapid diagnosis of viral and bacterial SARI. This work is a descriptive observational study from January 2018 to December 2019 including nasopharyngeal secretions collected from 534 children hospitalised in paediatric department. The detection of respiratory viruses and bacteria was performed by the FilmArray® Respiratory Panel. A total of 387 (72.5%) children were tested positive for at least one respiratory pathogen, and 23.3% of them were coinfected with more than one pathogen. Viral aetiology was found in 91.2% (n = 340). The most common viruses detected were HRV (n = 201) and RSV (n = 124), followed by PIV (n = 35) influenza A (n = 29) and human metapneumovirus (n = 27). Bacteria was found in 8.8% (n = 47), and Bordetella pertussis was the most detected. Respiratory syncytial virus and Bordetella pertussis were significantly higher in infants less than 6 months old. The detection of RSV and influenza A presented a pic in winter, and HMPV was statistically significant in spring ( p < 0.01 ). This study described the epidemiology of respiratory pathogens involved in severe respiratory infections in children that were affected by several factors such as season and age group. It also highlighted the importance of multiplex PCR in confirming viral origin, thus avoiding irrational prescription of antibiotics in paediatric settings.


Author(s):  
I. V. Kiseleva ◽  
N. V. Larionova ◽  
E. P. Grigorieva ◽  
A. D. Ksenafontov ◽  
M. Al Farroukh ◽  
...  

Abstract. A wide variety of zoonotic viruses that can cross the interspecies barrier promote the emergence of new, potentially pandemic viruses in the human population that was often accompanied by the disappearance of existing circulating strains. Among the various reasons underlying this phenomenon is the strengthening of populational immunity by expanding the immune layer of the population and improving the means and methods of medical care. However, “Natura abhorret vacuum”, and new pathogens come to replace disappearing pathogens. In the past ten years, there have been two critical events – the pandemic spread of the swine influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 virus in 2009 and the novel SARS–CoV–2 coronavirus in 2019, providing scientists with a unique opportunity to learn more about a relationship between respiratory viruses and their pathogenesis. Together with viruses of pandemic significance, a large number of seasonal respiratory viruses circulate, which contribute to the structure of human morbidity, and co–infections aggravate the condition of the illness. In the conditions of the spread of new viruses with unexplored characteristics, in the absence of means of prevention and therapy, it is especially important to prevent the aggravation of morbidity due to mixed infections. Here we review the mutual involvement of pandemic influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and SARS–CoV–2 coronavirus and seasonal respiratory viruses in the epidemic process, discuss some issues related to their spread, potential causes affecting the spread and severity of the morbidity. The given facts, testify to the existence of seasonality and temporal patterns of the beginning and end of the circulation of respiratory viruses. Interestingly, the beginning of the circulation of the pandemic influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus led to a shift in the timing and intensity of circulation of some respiratory viruses, which is probably caused by the existence of "replication conflicts" between them, and did not affect others. Co–infection with SARS–CoV–2–19 and other respiratory viruses, especially respiratory syncytial virus and rhinoviruses, was quite often observed. At the current stage, no aggravating effect of influenza on the course of COVID–19 in mixed infection has been established. Whether this is due to the mild course of influenza infection in the 2020 epidemic season, or the competitive impact of SARS–CoV–2 on influenza viruses is not yet clear. Experts are still at the stage of accumulating facts and working on creating means of effective prevention and treatment of the new coronavirus infection.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 723-736
Author(s):  
O. G. Kurskaya ◽  
A. V. Anoshina ◽  
N. V. Leonova ◽  
O. A. Simkina ◽  
T. V. Komissarova ◽  
...  

Influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections lead to a substantial incidence of severe cases and hospitalizations and so remain a global health problem. Within the frame of the Global Influenza Hospital Surveillance Network (GIHSN), we assessed the contribution of influenza and other respiratory viruses to severe cases of influenzalike diseases in patients hospitalized to the Novosibirsk infectious hospitals in the years 2018–2019. We analyzed 484 nasopharyngeal swabs collected from patients admitted to the hospitals with acute respiratory infections (ARI) using real-time polymerase chain reaction commercial kits. We confirmed viral etiology of ARI in 69.8% cases. Influenza viruses were detected in 47.1% cases, wherein concomitant circulation of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) viruses was observed in 20.7% and 26% of patients, respectively, whereas influenza B virus was detected only in one sample. All analyzed influenza A viruses were antigenically similar to vaccine strains. Genetically, the Novosibirsk strains were closely related to influenza A viruses distributed in Russia and worldwide. Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus was detected in all patients aged 0 to 14 years and required intensive care. Other respiratory viruses were detected in 36.4% of children and 5.8% of adults, and 8.3% of children had viral coinfection, whereas no cases of coinfection were detected in adults. The most common viruses in children were metapneumovirus — 12.8%, rhinovirus — 9.3% and respiratory syncytial virus — 8.0%. In adults, metapneumovirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus and rhinovirus were detected with a detection rate no exceeding 2%. In this study, we found no differences in the detection rate of the influenza virus due to concomitant chronic diseases, pregnancy, or smoking habits. At the same time, the detection rate of other respiratory viruses in non-smokers vs. smokers was significantly lower than in smokers and former smokers (26.15%, 66.67% and 62.50%, respectively). In addition, the level of detection of respiratory viruses in children with vs. without chronic pathology was significantly higher (55.3% and 38.7%, respectively). Thus, our and similar studies are important for monitoring and control of the infection.


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