Human rhinovirus C infections in pediatric hematology and oncology patients

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
• Infectious Diseases
• Virology

Background:

• Children undergoing cancer treatment and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients face elevated risks of common viral infections.
• Acute respiratory infections (ARI) pose a significant threat to this immunocompromised pediatric population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the viral causes of ARI in pediatric oncology and HSCT patients.
• To identify risk factors associated with these viral infections.
• To evaluate the utility of molecular diagnostic methods for common respiratory viruses.

Main Methods:

• Nasal wash samples were collected from pediatric patients with ARI during winter seasons (2003-2005).
• Real-time RT-PCR was employed to detect influenza A and B, RSV, PIV 1-3, human metapneumovirus (MPV), and human rhinovirus (HRV).
• HRV specimens underwent sequencing and genotyping.

Main Results:

• Viruses were identified in 40% of the 78 samples from 62 children.
• Human rhinovirus (HRV) was the most prevalent, detected in 52% of positive cases, including the HRVC type.
• Other detected viruses included RSV (22%), influenza A (16%), human MPV (13%), and PIV2 (6%). A trend suggested increased risk for children in daycare.

Conclusions:

• Human rhinovirus (HRV), including the HRVC subtype, is a significant pathogen causing respiratory infections in pediatric oncology and HSCT patients.
• Molecular testing, particularly real-time RT-PCR, offers superior sensitivity for detecting viruses like HRV compared to conventional methods.
• Routine molecular testing should be considered standard care for diagnosing ARI in this high-risk pediatric population.