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Author Spotlight: Advancements in Multiplex Detection of Respiratory Viruses
Published on: November 10, 2023
Acute Respiratory Illnesses in Children in the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Prospective Multicenter Study
Zaid Haddadin1, Jennifer E Schuster2, Andrew J Spieker3
1Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
Insights
Community mitigation measures significantly reduced respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza cases in children during the COVID-19 pandemic. These interventions led to a sharp decline in acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs) and virus detection rates.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Epidemiology
- Public health interventions
Background:
- Nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are crucial for controlling viral acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs).
- The impact of COVID-19 pandemic mitigation strategies on other respiratory viruses like RSV and influenza remains an important area of study.
- Understanding these impacts is vital for future public health planning and resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the frequency of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza-associated acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs) in children before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of community mitigation measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of RSV and influenza.
- To analyze changes in ARI surveillance data in response to public health interventions.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, multicenter, population-based surveillance of ARIs in children across 7 US cities.
- Collection and molecular testing of respiratory samples from children in emergency departments and inpatient settings.
- Statistical analysis using generalized linear mixed-effects models to assess the association between community mitigation and viral case data.
Main Results:
- A total of 25,415 children were enrolled and tested; 25% were RSV-positive and 14% were influenza-positive.
- Following the introduction of community mitigation measures in 2020, a significant decrease in eligible ARI subjects and viral detection was observed, with no RSV or influenza detected from April 5 to April 30, 2020.
- Compared to 2016-2019, there was a 63.9% and 45.8% reduction in the odds of testing positive for RSV and influenza, respectively, during the 2020 mitigation period.
Conclusions:
- Rapid declines in pediatric ARI cases and proportions of RSV and influenza were observed across 7 US cities between March and April 2020.
- These declines are likely attributable to community mitigation measures implemented against SARS-CoV-2.
- The findings underscore the significant impact of public health interventions on the epidemiology of common respiratory viruses.
Objectives:
Nonpharmaceutical interventions against coronavirus disease 2019 likely have a role in decreasing viral acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs). We aimed to assess the frequency of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza ARIs before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
Methods:
This study was a prospective, multicenter, population-based ARI surveillance, including children seen in the emergency departments and inpatient settings in 7 US cities for ARI. Respiratory samples were collected and evaluated by molecular testing. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate the association between community mitigation and number of eligible and proportion of RSV and influenza cases.
Results:
Overall, 45 759 children were eligible; 25 415 were enrolled and tested; 25% and 14% were RSV-positive and influenza-positive, respectively. In 2020, we noted a decrease in eligible and enrolled ARI subjects after community mitigation measures were introduced, with no RSV or influenza detection from April 5, 2020, to April 30, 2020. Compared with 2016-2019, there was an average of 10.6 fewer eligible ARI cases per week per site and 63.9% and 45.8% lower odds of patients testing positive for RSV and influenza, respectively, during the 2020 community mitigation period. In all sites except Seattle, the proportions of positive tests for RSV and influenza in the 2020 community mitigation period were lower than predicted.
Conclusions:
Between March and April 2020, rapid declines in ARI cases and the proportions of RSV and influenza in children were consistently noted across 7 US cities, which could be attributable to community mitigation measures against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
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