Title | Clinical Presentation and Co-Detection of Respiratory Pathogens in Children Under 5 Years with Non-COVID-19 Bacterial and Viral Respiratory Tract Infections: A Prospective Study in Bialystok, Poland (2021-2022). | ||
Author | Zdanowicz, Katarzyna; Lewandowski, Dawid; Majewski, Piotr; Polkosnik, Kinga; Liwoch-Nienartowicz, Nikolina; Reszec-Gielazyn, Joanna; Lebensztejn, Dariusz Marek; Sulik, Artur; Toczylowski, Kacper | ||
Journal | Med Sci Monit | Publication Year/Month | 2023-Oct |
PMID | 37794657 | PMCID | -N/A- |
Affiliation + expend | 1.Department of Paediatrics, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutrition, Allergology and Pulmonology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland. |
BACKGROUND Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in children often involve a complex interplay between viruses and bacteria. This study aimed to evaluate clinical presentation in children under 5 years old diagnosed with non-COVID-19 bacterial and viral respiratory tract co-infections between October 2021 and May 2022 in Bialystok, Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS We recruited 100 children under 5 years with RTIs who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Nasopharyngeal swabs were screened for 19 viruses and 7 bacterial strains using molecular assays. RESULTS Viral pathogens were detected in 71% of patients and bacterial pathogens were detected in 59%. The most common pathogens were Haemophilus influenzae (n=48), rhinoviruses (n=32), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (n=30). Single pathogens were detected in 36%, dual in 37%, triple in 15%, and quadruple in 2%. Bacterial pathogens were co-detected with viruses in 40 cases, mostly with rhinoviruses (n=15). Two different viruses were found in 14 children and the most common co-detection was adenovirus with rhinovirus (n=5); dyspnea (63% vs 11%) and wheezing (75% vs 22%) were more common in children with human bocavirus. Fever was a common symptom in children with human adenovirus (88% vs 58%). Detection of bacteria and multiple detections were more common in day-care attendees, but were not associated with clinical picture of RTI. CONCLUSIONS Consistent with previous studies, we found a high prevalence of rhinoviruses, despite ongoing implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Co-detection of 2 different respiratory pathogens was frequent, but we found no evidence that this was associated with the severity of infections.