Understanding the role of viral co-infection in defining the outcome of paediatric pneumonia will provide novel treatment and prevention strategies, improving patient’s outcome. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of viral infection in children with pneumonia
128 Nasopharyngeal swabs of children with clinically proven pneumonia collected from a tertiary care hospital in a duration of 1 year were tested. Multiplex real-time PCR assay- FTIyo Respiratory pathogens 33 test kit (Fast-Track Diagnosis, Luxembourg) was used for analysis.
105/128(82%) of children included in the study tested positive for at least one pathogen: bacterial or viral. Viral infection was detected in 55/128(42%) of samples. Pure viral infection was present in 12%(7/55) of cases. Single viral co-infection accounted for 67%(37/55) of cases. Co-infection with duel virus was detected in 10 patients(18%) and triple infection in 1.8% (1/55).
The most common viruses identified were Adenovirus(47%), Bocavirus(32%), Rhinovirus (21%), Human Parainfluenza Viruses HPIV3(12%), HPIV4(3.63%) and Respiratory syncytial viruses A and B(3.63%) respectively
The study highlights the importance of evaluating viral co-infection in the context of pneumonia in children. It is an ideal approach for better understanding of the carriage with multiple viral agents and its relationship with the bacterial pathogen.