Contribution of the FilmArray BioFire® Technology in the Diagnosis of Viral Respiratory Infections during the COVID-19 Pandemic at Ibn Sina University Hospital Center in Rabat: Epidemiological Study about 503 Cases

Abstract

Respiratory viruses are the most involved pathogens in acute respiratory infections. During the COVID-19 pandemic, new elements have been brought to this topic, especially at the diagnostic and therapeutic level. The objective of this work is to describe the epidemiology of respiratory viruses in patients admitted to the Ibn Sina University Hospital of Rabat during a period characterized by the emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2. We conducted a retrospective study from January 1 to December 31. We included all patients treated for acute respiratory infection and for whom a multiplex respiratory panel PCR was requested. Virus detection was performed using a FilmArray RP 2.1 plus BioFire multiplex respiratory panel. The study population was relatively adults with a mean age of 39 years. The sex ratio M/F was 1.20. The survey revealed a high prevalence of 42.3% of patients hospitalized in the adult intensive care unit whose respiratory distress was the most common reason for hospitalization (58%). The positivity rate was 48.1%. This rate was higher in the pediatric population 83.13% compared to adults 29.7%. Monoinfection was found in 36.4% of cases, and codetection in 11.7% of cases. This survey revealed that a total of 322 viruses were detected, HRV being the most incriminated virus (48.7%), followed by RSV in 13.8% of patients. Considering the five most detected viruses in our study (HRV, RSV, PIV3, ADV, and hMPV), we found that the incidence was significantly higher in the pediatric population. SARS-CoV-2 was detected only in adult’s population. In our study, we found that influenza A and B viruses, PIV2, MERS, and all bacteria were not detected by this kit during the study period. Regarding the seasonal distribution, RSV and hMPV showed a significantly high incidence during autumn and summer and SARS-CoV-2 and CoV OC43 showed a high peak during winter. In this study, we found a lack of detection of influenza virus and a shift in the usual winter peak of RSV to the summer, while the detection of ADV and HRV was less affected. This difference in detection could be due on the one hand to the difference in stability between enveloped and nonenveloped viruses and on the other hand to the escape of certain viruses to the different sanitary measures introduced after the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic. These same measures were effective against enveloped viruses such as RSV and influenza viruses. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has modified the epidemiology of other respiratory viruses, either directly by viral interference or indirectly by the preventive measures taken.

Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (ARTIs) in Children after COVID-19-Related Social Distancing: An Epidemiological Study in a Single Center of Southern Italy

“…Additionally, viruses like human coronavirus NL63 and parainfluenza virus 2 were exclusively detected in coinfections and mono-infections, respectively; however, they were found in only one patient each, so this finding was not statistically significant. These findings align perfectly with other studies [19,39]. Adenovirus is renowned for its extended viral shedding due to the robustness and stability of the viral DNA genome.…”

“…However, the three most frequently identified viruses in children's respiratory infections in the literature are HRV/EV, RSV, and If A [19,32,33]; this pattern was similarly affirmed in our study.…”

“…The higher prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 coinfections observed in our study compared to the existing literature, such as the study by Edderdouri et al [19] and the review by Weidmann [22], suggests a potential difference in the epidemiological dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 infections in our study population. This variation could be influenced by factors such as regional differences in viral circulation and the timing of data collection relative to the pandemic's progression.…”

“…Viruses are the predominant pathogens involved in acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) [18], leading to severe morbidity, particularly among children [19]. Understanding the epidemiology of these viruses is crucial for efficiently managing and preventing these infections [20].…”

“…Following closely were rhinovirus at 32% and influenza A at 20%. While respiratory syncytial virus is globally recognized as a primary cause of hospitalization [24,25] and a significant contributor to child mortality [24,25], it does not always emerge as the most identified virus in respiratory infections among children [19,[26][27][28]. Indeed, various epidemiological studies on pediatric patients have indicated that other viruses, particularly human rhinovirus/enterovirus, may be more commonly associated with children's respiratory infections [19,26,27].…”