Research

12 pages, 1095 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Symptom Burden and Factors Associated with Acute Respiratory Infections in the First Two Years of Life—Results from the LoewenKIDS Cohort

by Susan Langer, Johannes Horn, Cornelia Gottschick, Bianca Klee, Oliver Purschke, Mahrrouz Caputo, Evelyn Dorendorf, Kristin Maria Meyer-Schlinkmann, Heike Raupach-Rosin, André Karch, Nicole Rübsamen, Mustafa Aydogdu, Matthias Buhles, Frank Dressler, Wolfgang Eberl, Franz Edler von Koch, Torsten Frambach, Heiko Franz, Florian Guthmann, Carlos A. Guzman, Roland Haase, Gesine Hansen, Valerie Heselich, Johannes Hübner, Hans Georg Koch, Carsten Oberhoff, Peggy Riese, Ralf Schild, Sven Seeger, Michael Tchirikov, Stephanie Trittel, Constantin von Kaisenberg and Rafael Mikolajczyk Show full author list Hide full author list

Microorganisms 2022, 10(1), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10010111 - 05 Jan 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3915

Abstract

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are the most common childhood illnesses worldwide whereby the reported frequency varies widely, often depending on type of assessment. Symptom diaries are a powerful tool to counteract possible under-reporting, particularly of milder infections, and thus offer the possibility to [...] Read more.

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are the most common childhood illnesses worldwide whereby the reported frequency varies widely, often depending on type of assessment. Symptom diaries are a powerful tool to counteract possible under-reporting, particularly of milder infections, and thus offer the possibility to assess the full burden of ARIs. The following analyses are based on symptom diaries from participants of the German birth cohort study LoewenKIDS. Primary analyses included frequencies of ARIs and specific symptoms. Factors, which might be associated with an increased number of ARIs, were identified using the Poisson regression. A subsample of two hundred eighty-eight participants were included. On average, 13.7 ARIs (SD: 5.2 median: 14.0 IQR: 10–17) were reported in the first two years of life with an average duration of 11 days per episode (SD: 5.8, median: 9.7, IQR: 7–14). The median age for the first ARI episode was 91 days (IQR: 57–128, mean: 107, SD: 84.5). Childcare attendance and having siblings were associated with an increased frequency of ARIs, while exclusive breastfeeding for the first three months was associated with less ARIs, compared to exclusive breastfeeding for a longer period. This study provides detailed insight into the symptom burden of ARIs in German infants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Respiratory Tract Infection in Children)

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14 pages, 980 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Manifestations in Hospitalized Children with Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infection

by Carlotta Biagi, Alessandra Cavallo, Alessandro Rocca, Luca Pierantoni, Davide Antonazzo, Arianna Dondi, Liliana Gabrielli, Tiziana Lazzarotto and Marcello Lanari

Microorganisms 2021, 9(12), 2553; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9122553 - 10 Dec 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2119

Abstract

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is one of the main causes of both upper and lower respiratory infections in school-aged children, accounting for up to 40% of community-acquired pneumonia. Younger children are also affected, and extrapulmonary manifestations have been recently reported in the pediatric population. [...] Read more.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is one of the main causes of both upper and lower respiratory infections in school-aged children, accounting for up to 40% of community-acquired pneumonia. Younger children are also affected, and extrapulmonary manifestations have been recently reported in the pediatric population. We carried out a retrospective analysis of MP-positive patients admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Unit of S. Orsola Malpighi University Hospital in Bologna, the largest tertiary pediatric referral center in the Emilia–Romagna region, Northern Italy, between 2012 and 2020. We identified 145 patients with MP infection (82 males and 63 females), 27% of which were younger than 2 years; the median age was 5 years (interquartile range 1–9). The clinical presentation partially differed between age groups. School-aged children were more likely to have a chest X-ray-confirmed pneumonia (p = 0.013), while younger children required oxygen therapy more often (p = 0.048). Seventy-four children (51%) showed extrapulmonary manifestations, mainly gastrointestinal (30%) and dermatological (14%). Neurological symptoms were more frequent in children older than 6 years (p = 0.006). The rate of other extrapulmonary manifestations did not differ significantly between age groups. This study shows that MP infection is a frequent cause of pediatric hospitalization, including of children younger than 2 years. Clinicians should be aware of the variable clinical expressions of MP, including extrapulmonary manifestations, to achieve a correct diagnosis and determine appropriate treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Respiratory Tract Infection in Children)

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13 pages, 479 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Guidelines Publication on Acute Bronchiolitis Management: 10-Year Experience from a Tertiary Care Center in Italy

by Carlotta Biagi, Sara Scarpini, Camilla Paleari, Marianna Fabi, Arianna Dondi, Liliana Gabrielli, Monia Gennari, Marcello Lanari and Luca Pierantoni

Microorganisms 2021, 9(11), 2221; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9112221 - 26 Oct 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1812

Abstract

Bronchiolitis is the most common lower respiratory tract infection in infants. According to evidence-based guidelines, diagnosis is clinical, there is no need for routine use of laboratory or instrumental tests and therapy is primarily supportive, based on oxygen and adequate fluid supplementation. Nevertheless, [...] Read more.

Bronchiolitis is the most common lower respiratory tract infection in infants. According to evidence-based guidelines, diagnosis is clinical, there is no need for routine use of laboratory or instrumental tests and therapy is primarily supportive, based on oxygen and adequate fluid supplementation. Nevertheless, unnecessary diagnostic tests and pharmacological treatments are still very common. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate how the management of bronchiolitis has changed in the last ten years in a Tertiary Care Center in Italy, assessing adherence to national guidelines. Considering the publication of the Italian inter-society consensus document in 2014, we compared patients admitted in the prior four epidemic seasons with patients admitted in the latter six epidemic seasons. The comparison between the two groups showed a significant reduction in the prescription of systemic corticosteroids (58.9% vs. 41.8%, p < 0.001), nebulized epinephrine (73.8% vs. 38.3%, p < 0.001) and antibiotics (59.5% vs. 42.3%, p < 0.001), together with a drastic decrease in the use of chest X-ray (92.2% vs. 54.4%, p < 0.001). On the contrary, the use of inhaled salbutamol remained substantially stable over time (39.4% vs. 37.6%, p = 0.505). Despite the encouraging results, further efforts are needed to limit the prescription of ineffective therapies like antibiotics and inhaled salbutamol. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Respiratory Tract Infection in Children)

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22 pages, 2120 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Virological Surveillance and Molecular Characterization of Human Parainfluenzavirus Infection in Children with Acute Respiratory Illness: Germany, 2015–2019

by Djin-Ye Oh, Barbara Biere, Markus Grenz, Thorsten Wolff, Brunhilde Schweiger, Ralf Dürrwald and Janine Reiche

Microorganisms 2021, 9(7), 1508; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9071508 - 14 Jul 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3096

Abstract

Human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs) are important causes of respiratory illness, especially in young children. However, surveillance for HPIV is rarely performed continuously, and national-level epidemiologic and genetic data are scarce. Within the German sentinel system, to monitor acute respiratory infections (ARI), 4463 respiratory [...] Read more.

Human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs) are important causes of respiratory illness, especially in young children. However, surveillance for HPIV is rarely performed continuously, and national-level epidemiologic and genetic data are scarce. Within the German sentinel system, to monitor acute respiratory infections (ARI), 4463 respiratory specimens collected from outpatients < 5 years of age between October 2015 and September 2019 were retrospectively screened for HPIV 1–4 using real-time PCR. HPIV was identified in 459 (10%) samples. HPIV-3 was the most common HPIV-type, with 234 detections, followed by HPIV-1 (113), HPIV-4 (61), and HPIV-2 (49). HPIV-3 was more frequently associated with age < 2 years, and HPIV-4 was more frequently associated with pneumonia compared to other HPIV types. HPIV circulation displayed distinct seasonal patterns, which appeared to vary by type. Phylogenetic characterization clustered HPIV-1 in Clades 2 and 3. Reclassification was performed for HPIV-2, provisionally assigning two distinct HPIV-2 groups and six clades, with German HPIV-2s clustering in Clade 2.4. HPIV-3 clustered in C1, C3, C5, and, interestingly, in A. HPIV-4 clustered in Clades 2.1 and 2.2. The results of this study may serve to inform future approaches to diagnose and prevent HPIV infections, which contribute substantially to ARI in young children in Germany. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Respiratory Tract Infection in Children)

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14 pages, 1185 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of the Respiratory Microbiome and Viral Presence in Lower Respiratory Tract Infection Severity in the First Five Years of Life

by Ivo Hoefnagels, Josephine van de Maat, Jeroen J.A. van Kampen, Annemarie van Rossum, Charlie Obihara, Gerdien A. Tramper-Stranders, Astrid P. Heikema, Willem de Koning, Anne-Marie van Wermerskerken, Deborah Horst-Kreft, Gertjan J.A. Driessen, Janine Punt, Frank J. Smit, Andrew Stubbs, Jeroen G. Noordzij, John P. Hays and Rianne Oostenbrink

Microorganisms 2021, 9(7), 1446; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9071446 - 05 Jul 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3106

Abstract

Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in children are common and, although often mild, a major cause of mortality and hospitalization. Recently, the respiratory microbiome has been associated with both susceptibility and severity of LRTI. In this current study, we combined respiratory microbiome, viral, [...] Read more.

Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in children are common and, although often mild, a major cause of mortality and hospitalization. Recently, the respiratory microbiome has been associated with both susceptibility and severity of LRTI. In this current study, we combined respiratory microbiome, viral, and clinical data to find associations with the severity of LRTI. Nasopharyngeal aspirates of children aged one month to five years included in the STRAP study (Study to Reduce Antibiotic prescription in childhood Pneumonia), who presented at the emergency department (ED) with fever and cough or dyspnea, were sequenced with nanopore 16S-rRNA gene sequencing and subsequently analyzed with hierarchical clustering to identify respiratory microbiome profiles. Samples were also tested using a panel of 15 respiratory viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which were analyzed in two groups, according to their reported virulence. The primary outcome was hospitalization, as measure of disease severity. Nasopharyngeal samples were isolated from a total of 167 children. After quality filtering, microbiome results were available for 54 children and virology panels for 158 children. Six distinct genus-dominant microbiome profiles were identified, with Haemophilus-, Moraxella-, and Streptococcus-dominant profiles being the most prevalent. However, these profiles were not found to be significantly associated with hospitalization. At least one virus was detected in 139 (88%) children, of whom 32.4% had co-infections with multiple viruses. Viral co-infections were common for adenovirus, bocavirus, and enterovirus, and uncommon for human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and influenza A virus. The detection of enteroviruses was negatively associated with hospitalization. Virulence groups were not significantly associated with hospitalization. Our data underlines high detection rates and co-infection of viruses in children with respiratory symptoms and confirms the predominant presence of Haemophilus-, Streptococcus-, and Moraxella-dominant profiles in a symptomatic pediatric population at the ED. However, we could not assess significant associations between microbiome profiles and disease severity measures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Respiratory Tract Infection in Children)

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Review

Jump to: Research, Other

11 pages, 1274 KiB

Open AccessReview

Echinacea as a Potential Force against Coronavirus Infections? A Mini-Review of Randomized Controlled Trials in Adults and Children

by Simon Nicolussi, Karin Ardjomand-Woelkart, Rainer Stange, Giuseppe Gancitano, Peter Klein and Mercedes Ogal

Microorganisms 2022, 10(2), 211; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10020211 - 19 Jan 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6545

Abstract

Echinacea purpurea has been shown to broadly inhibit coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. This review discusses the available clinical evidence from randomized, blinded and controlled human studies. Two RCTs capturing incidence of viral respiratory tract infections during Echinacea preventative treatment were identified including [...] Read more.

Echinacea purpurea has been shown to broadly inhibit coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. This review discusses the available clinical evidence from randomized, blinded and controlled human studies. Two RCTs capturing incidence of viral respiratory tract infections during Echinacea preventative treatment were identified including coronavirus infections. Incidence and/or viral loads were measured by RT-PCR and symptom severity was recorded. In a first study, Jawad et al. collected nasopharyngeal swabs from adults (N = 755) over 4 months of continuous prevention. Overall, 24 and 47 enveloped virus infections occurred, including 21 and 33 coronavirus detections (229E; HKU1; OC43) with Echinaforce^® extract (2400 mg daily) and placebo, respectively (p = 0.0114). In a separate study, Ogal et al. administered the same extract (1200 mg) or control for 4 months to children (4–12 years) (N = 203). Echinacea reduced the incidence of enveloped virus infections from 47 to 29 (p = 0.0038) whereas 11 and 13 coronavirus detections (229E, OC43, NL63) were counted (p > 0.05). Respiratory symptoms during coronavirus infections were significantly lower with area-under-curve AUC = 75.8 (+/−50.24) versus 27.1 (+/−21.27) score points (p = 0.0036). Importantly, viral loads in nasal secretions were significantly reduced by 98.5% in the Echinacea group, with Ct-values 31.1 [95% CI 26.3; 35.9] versus 25.0 [95% CI 20.5; 29.5] in the control group (p = 0.0479). Results from clinical studies confirm the antiviral activity found for Echinacea in vitro, embracing enveloped respiratory pathogens and therefore coronaviruses as well. Substantiating results from a new, completed study seem to extrapolate these effects to the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infections. As hypothesized, the established broad antiviral activity of Echinacea extract appears to be inclusive for SARS-CoV-2. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Respiratory Tract Infection in Children)

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Graphical abstract

17 pages, 567 KiB

Open AccessReview

Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant and Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Children: The Role of Bedaquiline and Delamanid

by Francesco Pecora, Giulia Dal Canto, Piero Veronese and Susanna Esposito

Microorganisms 2021, 9(5), 1074; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9051074 - 17 May 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3652

Abstract

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) has been emerging at an alarming rate over the last few years. It has been estimated that about 3% of all pediatric TB is MDR, meaning about 30,000 cases each year. Although most children with MDR-TB can be successfully [...] Read more.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) has been emerging at an alarming rate over the last few years. It has been estimated that about 3% of all pediatric TB is MDR, meaning about 30,000 cases each year. Although most children with MDR-TB can be successfully treated, up to five years ago effective treatment was associated with a high incidence of severe adverse effects and patients with extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB had limited treatment options and no standard regimen. The main objective of this manuscript is to discuss our present knowledge of the management of MDR- and XDR-TB in children, focusing on the characteristics and available evidence on the use of two promising new drugs: bedaquiline and delamanid. PubMed was used to search for all of the studies published up to November 2020 using key words such as “bedaquiline” and “delamanid” and “children” and “multidrug-resistant tuberculosis” and “extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis”. The search was limited to articles published in English and providing evidence-based data. Although data on pediatric population are limited and more studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of bedaquiline and delamanid, their use in children with MDR-TB/XDR-TB appears to have good tolerability and efficacy. However, more evidence on these new anti-TB drugs is needed to better guide their use in children in order to design effective shorter regimens and reduce adverse effects, drug interactions, and therapeutic failure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Respiratory Tract Infection in Children)

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18 pages, 2204 KiB

Open AccessReview

Dysbiosis in Pediatrics Is Associated with Respiratory Infections: Is There a Place for Bacterial-Derived Products?

by Stefania Ballarini, Giovanni A. Rossi, Nicola Principi and Susanna Esposito

Microorganisms 2021, 9(2), 448; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9020448 - 22 Feb 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2753

Abstract

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are common in childhood because of the physiologic immaturity of the immune system, a microbial community under development in addition to other genetic, physiological, environmental and social factors. RTIs tend to recur and severe lower viral RTIs in early [...] Read more.

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are common in childhood because of the physiologic immaturity of the immune system, a microbial community under development in addition to other genetic, physiological, environmental and social factors. RTIs tend to recur and severe lower viral RTIs in early childhood are not uncommon and are associated with increased risk of respiratory disorders later in life, including recurrent wheezing and asthma. Therefore, a better understanding of the main players and mechanisms involved in respiratory morbidity is necessary for a prompt and improved care as well as for primary prevention. The inter-talks between human immune components and microbiota as well as their main functions have been recently unraveled; nevertheless, more is still to be discovered or understood in the above medical conditions. The aim of this review paper is to provide the most up-to-date overview on dysbiosis in pre-school children and its association with RTIs and their complications. The potential role of non-harmful bacterial-derived products, according to the old hygiene hypothesis and the most recent trained-innate immunity concept, will be discussed together with the need of proof-of-concept studies and larger clinical trials with immunological and microbiological endpoints. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Respiratory Tract Infection in Children)

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11 pages, 276 KiB

Open AccessReview

Silence of the Lambs: The Immunological and Molecular Mechanisms of COVID-19 in Children in Comparison with Adults

by Francesca Cusenza, Giusy Davino, Tiziana D’Alvano, Alberto Argentiero, Valentina Fainardi, Giovanna Pisi, Nicola Principi and Susanna Esposito

Microorganisms 2021, 9(2), 330; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9020330 - 07 Feb 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3076

Abstract

Children infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can suffer from severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, compared to adults and the elderly, susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in children seems to be lower; when infection does develop, most infected children remain [...] Read more.

Children infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can suffer from severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, compared to adults and the elderly, susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in children seems to be lower; when infection does develop, most infected children remain asymptomatic or develop a mild disease. Understanding why children seem generally protected from severe COVID-19 and only rarely develop clinical conditions that can cause hospitalization, admission to the pediatric intensive care unit and death can be important. More details on the mechanism of action of SARS-CoV-2 could be defined. Moreover, the role played by children in virus diffusion should be better analyzed, and the development of effective preventive and therapeutic measures against COVID-19 could be favored. The main aim of this paper is to discuss the present knowledge on immunological and molecular mechanisms that could explain differences in COVID-19 clinical manifestations between children and adults. Literature analysis showed that although most children are clearly protected from the development of severe COVID-19, the reasons for this peculiarity are not fully understood. Developmental variations in immune system function together with the potential role of repeated antigen stimulation in the first periods of life on innate immunity are widely studied. As the few children who develop the most severe form of pediatric COVID-19 have certain alterations in the immune system response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, studies about the relationships between SARS-CoV-2 and the immune system of the host are essential to understand the reasons for the age-related differences in the severity of COVID-19. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Respiratory Tract Infection in Children)

14 pages, 754 KiB

Open AccessReview

Role of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Pediatric Pneumonia

by Sonia Bianchini, Ettore Silvestri, Alberto Argentiero, Valentina Fainardi, Giovanna Pisi and Susanna Esposito

Microorganisms 2020, 8(12), 2048; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8122048 - 21 Dec 2020

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 10802

Abstract

Respiratory viral infections represent the leading cause of hospitalization in infants and young children worldwide and the second leading cause of infant mortality. Among these, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) represents the main cause of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in young children worldwide. [...] Read more.

Respiratory viral infections represent the leading cause of hospitalization in infants and young children worldwide and the second leading cause of infant mortality. Among these, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) represents the main cause of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in young children worldwide. RSV manifestation can range widely from mild upper respiratory infections to severe respiratory infections, mainly bronchiolitis and pneumonia, leading to hospitalization, serious complications (such as respiratory failure), and relevant sequalae in childhood and adulthood (wheezing, asthma, and hyperreactive airways). There are no specific clinical signs or symptoms that can distinguish RSV infection from other respiratory pathogens. New multiplex platforms offer the possibility to simultaneously identify different pathogens, including RSV, with an accuracy similar to that of single polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the majority of cases. At present, the treatment of RSV infection relies on supportive therapy, mainly consisting of oxygen and hydration. Palivizumab is the only prophylactic method available for RSV infection. Advances in technology and scientific knowledge have led to the creation of different kinds of vaccines and drugs to treat RSV infection. Despite the good level of these studies, there are currently few registered strategies to prevent or treat RSV due to difficulties related to the unpredictable nature of the disease and to the specific target population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Respiratory Tract Infection in Children)

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19 pages, 356 KiB

Open AccessReview

Prevention of New Respiratory Episodes in Children with Recurrent Respiratory Infections: An Expert Consensus Statement from the World Association of Infectious Diseases and Immunological Disorders (WAidid)

by Susanna Esposito, Marcus Herbert Jones, Wojciech Feleszko, José A. Ortega Martell, Oana Falup-Pecurariu, Natalia Geppe, Federico Martinón-Torres, Kun-Ling Shen, Michael Roth and Nicola Principi

Microorganisms 2020, 8(11), 1810; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8111810 - 17 Nov 2020

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 6799

Abstract

In healthy infants and young children, the development of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) is extremely common. In this paper, we present an international consensus of the available approaches for the prevention of recurrent RTIs in children, including the atopic/allergic ones as well as [...] Read more.

In healthy infants and young children, the development of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) is extremely common. In this paper, we present an international consensus of the available approaches for the prevention of recurrent RTIs in children, including the atopic/allergic ones as well as those with asthma. Few convincing measures for reducing the frequency and clinical relevance of recurrent respiratory episodes in RTI-prone children have been developed until now. Among the most recently suggested measures, immunotherapy is attractive, but only for OM-85 is there a sufficient number of well-conducted clinical trials confirming efficacy in RTIs prevention with an adequate safety profile. In the case of probiotics, it is not clear which bacteria can offer the best results and which dosage and schedule of administration are the most effective. The problems of dosage and the schedule of administration are not solved also for vitamin D, despite some promising efficacy results. While we wait for new knowledge, the elimination or reduction as much as possible of the environmental factors that favor RTIs, vaccination when available and/or indicated, and the systematic application of the traditional methods for infection prevention, such as hand washing, remain the best measures to prevent recurrent infections in RTI-prone children. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Respiratory Tract Infection in Children)

Other

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7 pages, 669 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown on Pediatric Infections—A Single-Center Retrospective Study

by Magdalena Grochowska, Dominika Ambrożej, Aneta Wachnik, Urszula Demkow, Edyta Podsiadły and Wojciech Feleszko

Microorganisms 2022, 10(1), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10010178 - 14 Jan 2022

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 2264

Abstract

Since the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, many countries have introduced measures to limit the transmission. The data based on ICD-10 codes of lower respiratory tract infections and microbiological analysis of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections were collected. The retrospective five-year analysis of the medical records revealed [...] Read more.

Since the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, many countries have introduced measures to limit the transmission. The data based on ICD-10 codes of lower respiratory tract infections and microbiological analysis of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections were collected. The retrospective five-year analysis of the medical records revealed a substantial decrease in respiratory tract infections during the pandemic year (from April 2020 to March 2021). We noted an 81% decline in the LRTI-associated hospital admissions based on the ICD-10 analysis (from a mean of 1170 admissions per year in the previous four years to 225 admissions between April 2020 through March 2021). According to microbiological analysis, there were 100%, 99%, 87%, and 47% drops in influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, rotavirus, and norovirus cases reported respectively during the pandemic season until April 2021 in comparison to pre-pandemic years. However, the prevalence of gastrointestinal bacterial infections was stable. Moreover, in August 2021, an unexpected rise in RSV-positive cases was observed. The measures applied during the COVID-19 pandemic turned out to be effective but also had a substantial contribution to the so-far stable epidemiological situation of seasonal infections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Respiratory Tract Infection in Children)

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