Korean J Pediatr Infect Dis.  2014 Apr;21(1):22-28.

Risk Factors Associated with Respiratory Virus Detection in Infants Younger than 90 Days of Age

• Eem YJ
• Bae EY
• Lee JH
• Jeong DC

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study aimed at determining the detection rate of respiratory viruses and at investigating the risk factors associated with respiratory virus detection in young infants.
METHODS
From September 2011 to August 2012, nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from 227 infants aged < or =90 days with suspected infectious diseases, including sepsis. We performed a retrospective analysis of their clinical characteristics. The prevalence of respiratory viruses in their nasopharyngeal swabs was assayed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR).
RESULTS
In total, 157 (69.2%) infants had more than one of the following respiratory viruses: respiratory syncytial virus (n=75), rhinovirus (n=42), influenza virus (n=18), parainfluenza virus (n=15), human metapneumovirus (n=9), coronavirus (n=9), adenovirus (n=4), and bocavirus (n=3). During the same period, bacterial infections were confirmed in 24 infants (10.6%). The detection of respiratory viruses was significantly associated with the presence of cough, a family history of respiratory illness, and a seasonal preference (fall/winter). Using logistic regression analysis, these 3 variables were also identified as significant risk factors. During fall and winter, detection of respiratory viruses was significantly higher in infants who did not have a bacterial infection.
CONCLUSION
Respiratory virus is an important pathogen in young infants admitted to a hospital, who are suspected with infectious diseases. Detection of respiratory viruses in young infants was associated with seasonality (fall/winter), presence of respiratory symptoms and a family history of respiratory illness.

Keyword

Infants; Nasopharynx; Virus disease; Respiratory tract infections; Real-time polymerase chain reaction

MeSH Terms

Adenoviridae
Bacterial Infections
Bocavirus
Communicable Diseases
Coronavirus
Cough
Humans
Infant*
Logistic Models
Metapneumovirus
Nasopharynx
Orthomyxoviridae
Paramyxoviridae Infections
Prevalence
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Respiratory Syncytial Viruses
Respiratory Tract Infections
Retrospective Studies
Rhinovirus
Risk Factors*
Seasons
Sepsis
Virus Diseases

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Monthly distribution of common respiratory virus detection cases.

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