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. 2024 Jan 2;24(1):38.
doi: 10.1186/s12879-023-08750-7.

Epidemiological trends of respiratory tract pathogens detected via mPCR in Australian adult patients before COVID-19

Audrey K Grech  1 , Chuan T Foo  2   3 , Eldho Paul  4 , Ar K Aung  5   6 , Christiaan Yu  7   8   9
Affiliations

Epidemiological trends of respiratory tract pathogens detected via mPCR in Australian adult patients before COVID-19

Audrey K Grech et al. BMC Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are a major global health burden due to their high morbidity and mortality. This retrospective study described the epidemiology of respiratory pathogens in adults over a 5-year period at an Australian tertiary healthcare network.

Methods: All multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction respiratory samples taken between the 1st of November 2014 and the 31st of October 2019 were included in this study. Overall prevalence and variations according to seasons, age groups and sex were analysed, as well as factors associated with prolonged hospital and intensive care length of stay.

Results: There were 12,453 pathogens detected amongst the 12,185 positive samples, with coinfection rates of 3.7%. Picornavirus (Rhinovirus), Influenza A and respiratory syncytial virus were the most commonly detected pathogens. Mycoplasma pneumoniae was the most commonly detected atypical bacteria. Significant differences in the prevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae and Human metapneumovirus infections were found between sexes. Longest median length of intensive care and hospital stay was for Legionella species. Seasonal variations were evident for certain pathogens.

Conclusions: The high rates of pathogen detection and hospitalisation in this real-world study highlights the significant burden of RTIs, and the urgent need for an improved understanding of the pathogenicity as well as preventative and treatment options of RTIs.

Keywords: Respiratory tract infections; Seasonal distribution of respiratory pathogens; Viral trends.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Number of mPCR samples, including exclusion data and location of each sample type
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Seasonal variation in respiratory pathogen prevalence by year. Summer: December to February, Autumn: March to May, Winter: June to August and Spring: September to November
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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