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[Etiological study on an outbreak of acute respiratory infection in children in Beijing]
Jin-Ping Wu1, Lin-Qing Zhao, Jie Deng
1The Second Hospital of Beijing, Beijing 100020, China.
Insights
An outbreak of acute respiratory infections in Beijing children was caused by influenza B virus and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp). Coinfections were also identified, highlighting the need for comprehensive etiological investigation in pediatric respiratory illness.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Virology
- Bacteriology
Context:
- An acute respiratory infection outbreak occurred in Beijing day care centers and primary schools in late 2002.
- This study focused on identifying the causative agents in affected children.
Purpose:
- To investigate the specific etiological agents responsible for the acute respiratory infection outbreak in children.
- To determine the prevalence of common respiratory viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) during the outbreak.
Summary:
- Influenza B virus was detected in 22.5% of specimens, and Mp in 16.3%. Influenza A3 was found in 2.5%.
- Other tested viruses like influenza A1, RSV, adenovirus, and parainfluenza were not detected.
- Coinfections with influenza B virus and Mp, and influenza A3 virus and Mp, were observed in a small number of cases.
Impact:
- Identified influenza B virus and Mycoplasma pneumoniae as key pathogens in this pediatric respiratory outbreak.
- Demonstrates the importance of considering bacterial coinfections alongside viral etiologies in respiratory illness.
- Provides etiological data for public health surveillance and management of pediatric respiratory infections.
Objective:
An outbreak of acute respiratory infections in children occurred in Beijing from November to December, 2002. To investigate the etiological agents of affected children who were in day care centers and primary schools.
Methods:
Throat swab specimens were collected from one primary school children with acute respiratory infections visiting one outpatient department. After centrifuging, supernatant from the specimens were inoculated into MDCK and Hep-2 cells for virus isolation and pallets for viral antigen detection and using indirect immunofluorescent assay on common respiratory viruses. Nested polymerase chain reaction was used at the same time for detection of respiratory viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp).
Results:
A total number of 80 specimens were collected during the outbreak. Among them influenza B virus were detected from 18 specimens, with a positive rate of 22.5% (18/80) while Mp were detected from 13 specimens, with a positive rate of 16.3% (13/80). Influenza A3 were also detected from 2 patients (2.5%, 2/80). However, influenza A1, RSV, adenovirus and parainfluenza viruses were not found from these specimens. Influenza B virus and Mp were detected simultaneity in two specimens and influenza A3 virus and Mp were detected in one specimen.
Conclusion:
The outbreak of acute respiratory infection in children during the period of investigation was caused by both influenza B virus and Mp.
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