Etiology, clinical characteristics and coinfection status of bronchiolitis in Suzhou

Background Bronchiolitis is a clinical syndrome commonly encountered in practice, particularly among infants and young children. To investigate the prevalence of pathogens in hospitalized children with bronchiolitis and study the clinical characteristics of bronchiolitis with or without coinfections. Methods We investigated the respiratory specimens and clinical data of 1012 children with bronchiolitis who were treated at the Children’s Hospital of Soochow University between November 2011 and December 2018. The nasopharyngeal aspirates were examined to detect viruses by direct immunofluorescence assay or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) was tested by PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Of the 1134 children less than 2 years with bronchiolitis, 122 were excluded by exclusion criteria. Causative pathogen was detected in 83.2% (842 of 1012). The majority of these (614 [72.9%] of 842) were single virus infection. The most common pathogens detected were respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (44.4%), MP (15.6%), and human rhinovirus (HRV) (14.4%). Coinfection was identified in 13.5% (137 of 1012) of the patients. Coinfection included mixed virus infection and virus infection with MP infection. Children with single virus infection had a higher rate of oxygen therapy compared with single MP infection. Conclusions The most common pathogen detected in children with bronchiolitis is RSV, followed by MP and HRV. Coinfection leads to a longer period of illness, increased severity of the symptoms and increased risk of hypoxemia.

Etiology, clinical characteristics and coinfection status of bronchiolitis in Suzhou

Background: Bronchiolitis is a clinical syndrome commonly encountered in practice, particularly among infants and young children. To investigate the prevalence of pathogens in hospitalized children with bronchiolitis and study the clinical characteristics of bronchiolitis with or without coinfections. Methods: We investigated the respiratory specimens and clinical data of 1012 children with bronchiolitis who were treated at the Children’s Hospital of Soochow University between November 2011 and December 2018. The nasopharyngeal aspirates were examined to detect viruses by direct immunofluorescence assay or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) was tested by PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Of the 1134 children less than 2 years with bronchiolitis, 122 were excluded by exclusion criteria. Causative pathogen was detected in 83.4% (842 of 1012). The majority of these (614 [72.9%] of 842) were single virus infection. The most common pathogens detected were respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (44.4%), MP (15.6%), and human rhinovirus (HRV) (14.4%). Coinfection was identified in 13.5% (137 of 1012) of the patients. Coinfection included mixed virus infection and virus infection with MP infection. Children with single virus infection had a higher rate of oxygen therapy compared with single MP infection. Conclusions: The most common pathogen detected in children with bronchiolitis is RSV, followed by MP and HRV. Coinfection leads to a longer period of illness, increased severity of the symptoms and increased risk of hypoxemia.

Etiology, clinical characteristics and coinfection status of bronchiolitis in Suzhou

Background: Bronchiolitis is a clinical syndrome commonly encountered in practice, particularly among infants and young children. To investigate the prevalence of pathogens in hospitalized children with bronchiolitis and study the clinical characteristics of bronchiolitis with or without coinfections. Methods: We investigated the respiratory specimens and clinical data of 1012 children with bronchiolitis who were treated at the Children’s Hospital of Soochow University between November 2011 and December 2018. The nasopharyngeal aspirates were examined to detect viruses by direct immunofluorescence assay or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) was tested by PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results: Of the 1012 children less than 2 years with bronchiolitis, causative pathogen was detected in 83.4% (842 of 1012). The majority of these (614 [72.9%] of 842) were single virus infection. The most common pathogens detected were respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (44.4%), MP (15.6%), and human rhinovirus (HRV) (14.4%). Coinfection was identified in 13.5% (137 of 1012) of the patients. Coinfection includes virus mixed virus infection and virus mixed MP infection. Children with single virus infection had a higher rate of oxygen therapy compared with single MP infection. Conclusions: The most common pathogen detected in children with bronchiolitis is RSV, followed by MP and HRV. The high mix infection burden in bronchiolitis underscores a need for the sensitive and rapid diagnostics to accurately identify pathogens.

Pneumocystis jirovecii in HIV patients and suspected pneumonia: a problematic diagnosis in Caracas, Venezuela

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is one of the most frequentopportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. The objective of thisstudy was to know the P. jirovecii epidemiology in Venezuelan patients with HumanImmunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and suspected pneumonia, through passivesurveillance at a national reference laboratory during six years. Laboratory recordsof patients with HIV infection, who were hospitalized with acute lower respiratorytract infection (ALRTI), and presumptive clinical diagnosis of PCP, were reviewedbetween January 2007 and December 2012, at the Mycology Department of theInstituto Nacional de Higiene Rafael Rangel. Several respiratory specimens werereceived and the direct immunofluorescence assay (DIF) and nested polymerasechain reaction (nPCR) diagnostic techniques were used. One hundred and sixty-onerespiratory samples were processed and P. jirovecii was detected in 76 samples byDIF and in 20 by nPCR. PCP’s frequency in Venezuelan patients with HIV is high andit has been sustained throughout time. Colonization by P. jirovecii has uncertainclinical significance, but this study provides evidence that the state of advancedimmunosuppression increases the probability of colonization. DIF and nPCR arevery useful techniques for PCP diagnosis, but are of limited access in many hospitalcenters, especially in developing countries. We recommend the use of DIF with spontaneoussputum specimens as the first diagnostic line for PCP in patients with HIVinfection. The results obtained by nPCR should be interpreted with caution, takinginto account the patient’s clinical symptoms.

Etiology and Clinical characteristics of bronchiolitis in Suzhou

Background Bronchiolitis is a clinical syndrome commonly encountered in practice, particularly among infants and young children. However, the etiology and clinical impact of the condition remains elusive.Methods We investigated the respiratory specimens and clinical data of 1012 children with bronchiolitis who were treated at the Children’s Hospital of Soochow University between November 2011 and December 2018. The nasopharyngeal aspirates were examined by direct immunofluorescence assay or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect viruses and by PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP).Results Of the 1012 children with bronchiolitis, 842 (83.2%) were detected at least a pathogen. 614 (60.7%) had single viral infections, 91 (9.0%) had MP infections, 70 (6.9%) had multiple viral infections, and 67 (6.6%) had mixed viral and MP infection. The most common pathogens detected were respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (44.4%), MP (15.6%), and human rhinovirus (HRV) (14.4%). RSV was the most common pathogen detected in children less than 6 months. Coinfection was detected in 13.5% (137/1012) of the children, but it was less common in children less than 6 months. The age of children with single virus infection was the youngest. Children with single virus infection had a higher proportion of oxygen therapy compared with single MP infection.Conclusions The most common pathogen detected in children with bronchiolitis is RSV, followed by MP and HRV. Co-infections lead to prolonged illness and worsening of the symptoms

Urban park-related risks forGiardiaspp. infection in dogs

SUMMARYGiardiaspp. is a common gastrointestinal (GI) parasite of multiple host species, including dogs and humans, with the potential for zoonotic transmission. The risk of GI parasitism in dogs (includingGiardiaspp.) may increase with park use in urban areas. This study aimed to (1) determine whether park attendance is a risk factor forGiardiaspp. infection in dogs and (2) characterize the behavioural and demographic risk factors forGiardiaspp. infection in park-attending and non-park-attending dogs. From August to September 2012, a total of 1293 dog owners completed a survey and 860 corresponding dog faecal samples were collected. Dog faeces were screened forGiardiaspp. using a direct immunofluorescence assay and associations assessed among behaviours, demographics, andGiardiaspp. infection. Main results included off-leash and swimming frequencies within parks as significantly positively associated withGiardiaspp. infection in dogs. Dog-owner age was negatively associated with off-leash and swimming frequencies in parks. The results suggest some recreational behaviours in parks and certain demographics are risk factors for parasitism in pet dogs.