BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of acute respiratory infections (ARI) hospitalizations in young children and is associated with increased severity compared to other viruses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utilization of a rapid RSV diagnostic test and clinical characteristics and disease severity of children who were hospitalized during one respiratory season in Amman, Jordan. METHODS: Children less than two years hospitalized with fever and/or respiratory symptoms were recruited at Al-Bashir Government Hospital from January 8, 2020, to March 17, 2020. Nasal swabs were collected and tested by Sofia-2 RSV Fluorescent Immunoassay. Demographic information and clinical history were obtained through parental interviews. A validated severity score was used to assess disease severity, and the treating physician prospectively collected the necessary information to calculate the score at admission. Disease severity was categorized based on the total score into 0-5 mild, 6-9 moderate, and ≥ 10 severe. Molecular testing and medical chart reviews are still in process. RESULTS: A total of 532 subjects were enrolled, and nasal swabs were collected and tested from 458 (86%) of enrollees. The most common admission diagnoses were pneumonia (25%), bronchopneumonia (21%), bronchiolitis (19%) and sepsis (17%). Demographic and clinical characteristics are included in Table 1. Overall, 276 (60%) subjects were RSV-positive. The most common admission diagnoses were pneumonia (33%), sepsis (25%), bronchiolitis (24%) and bronchopneumonia (24%). Compared to RSV-negative children, RSV-positive children were younger (Table 1), and more likely to present with cough, nasal congestion, and appetite loss (Figure 1). There were no differences in severity score or direct intensive care unit admission between the two groups (Table 1). [Image: see text] Figure 1. Symptom Distribution in RSV-Positive and RSV-Negative Subjects [Image: see text] CONCLUSION: Nearly 2/3 of children enrolled were RSV-positive ...
In: Li , Y , Reeves , R M , Wang , X , Bassat , Q , Brooks , W A , Cohen , C , Moore , D P , Nunes , M , Rath , B , Campbell , H , Nair , H , Acacio , S , RSV Global Epidemiology Network , Alonso , W J , Antonio , M , Ayora Talavera , G , Badarch , D , Baillie , V L , Barrera-Badillo , G , Bigogo , G , Broor , S , Bruden , D , Buchy , P , Byass , P , Chipeta , J , Clara , W , Dang , D-A , de Freitas Lázaro Emediato , C C , de Jong , M , Díaz-Quiñonez , J A , Do , L A H , Fasce , R A , Feng , L , Ferson , M J , Gentile , A , Gessner , B D , Goswami , D , Goyet , S , Grijalva , C G , Halasa , N , Hellferscee , O , Hessong , D , Homaira , N , Jara , J , Kahn , K , Khuri-Bulos , N , Kotloff , K L , Lanata , C F , Lopez , O , Lopez Bolaños , M R , de Jong , M , Yoshida , L-M , Zar , H J & RESCEU investigators 2019 , ' Global patterns in monthly activity of influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, and metapneumovirus: a systematic analysis ' , The Lancet Global Health , vol. 7 , no. 8 , pp. e1031-e1045 . https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(19)30264-5
Background: Influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, and metapneumovirus are the most common viruses associated with acute lower respiratory infections in young children (<5 years) and older people (≥65 years). A global report of the monthly activity of these viruses is needed to inform public health strategies and programmes for their control. Methods: In this systematic analysis, we compiled data from a systematic literature review of studies published between Jan 1, 2000, and Dec 31, 2017; online datasets; and unpublished research data. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they reported laboratory-confirmed incidence data of human infection of influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, or metapneumovirus, or a combination of these, for at least 12 consecutive months (or 52 weeks equivalent); stable testing practice throughout all years reported; virus results among residents in well-defined geographical locations; and aggregated virus results at least on a monthly basis. Data were extracted through a three-stage process, from which we calculated monthly annual average percentage (AAP) as the relative strength of virus activity. We defined duration of epidemics as the minimum number of months to account for 75% of annual positive samples, with each component month defined as an epidemic month. Furthermore, we modelled monthly AAP of influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus using site-specific temperature and relative humidity for the prediction of local average epidemic months. We also predicted global epidemic months of influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus on a 5° by 5° grid. The systematic review in this study is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42018091628. Findings: We initally identified 37 335 eligible studies. Of 21 065 studies remaining after exclusion of duplicates, 1081 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, of which 185 were identified as eligible. We included 246 sites for influenza virus, 183 sites for respiratory syncytial virus, 83 sites for parainfluenza virus, and 65 sites for metapneumovirus. Influenza virus had clear seasonal epidemics in winter months in most temperate sites but timing of epidemics was more variable and less seasonal with decreasing distance from the equator. Unlike influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus had clear seasonal epidemics in both temperate and tropical regions, starting in late summer months in the tropics of each hemisphere, reaching most temperate sites in winter months. In most temperate sites, influenza virus epidemics occurred later than respiratory syncytial virus (by 0·3 months [95% CI −0·3 to 0·9]) while no clear temporal order was observed in the tropics. Parainfluenza virus epidemics were found mostly in spring and early summer months in each hemisphere. Metapneumovirus epidemics occurred in late winter and spring in most temperate sites but the timing of epidemics was more diverse in the tropics. Influenza virus epidemics had shorter duration (3·8 months [3·6 to 4·0]) in temperate sites and longer duration (5·2 months [4·9 to 5·5]) in the tropics. Duration of epidemics was similar across all sites for respiratory syncytial virus (4·6 months [4·3 to 4·8]), as it was for metapneumovirus (4·8 months [4·4 to 5·1]). By comparison, parainfluenza virus had longer duration of epidemics (6·3 months [6·0 to 6·7]). Our model had good predictability in the average epidemic months of influenza virus in temperate regions and respiratory syncytial virus in both temperate and tropical regions. Through leave-one-out cross validation, the overall prediction error in the onset of epidemics was within 1 month (influenza virus −0·2 months [−0·6 to 0·1]; respiratory syncytial virus 0·1 months [−0·2 to 0·4]). Interpretation: This study is the first to provide global representations of month-by-month activity of influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, and metapneumovirus. Our model is helpful in predicting the local onset month of influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus epidemics. The seasonality information has important implications for health services planning, the timing of respiratory syncytial virus passive prophylaxis, and the strategy of influenza virus and future respiratory syncytial virus vaccination. Funding: European Union Innovative Medicines Initiative Respiratory Syncytial Virus Consortium in Europe (RESCEU).