A multicenter study of viral aetiology of Community-Acquired Pneumonia
in hospitalized children in mainland China
Abstract
Background Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is one of the leading
causes of morbidity and mortality in the children worldwide. In this
study, we aim to describe the aetiology of viral infection of pediatric
community-acquired pneumonia in mainland China. Methods During Nov. 2014
and Jun. 2016, the prospective study was conducted at thirteen
hospitals. The hospitalized children under 18 years old who met the
criteria for CAP were enrolled. The throat swabs or nasopharyngeal
aspirates were collected from cases and screened the eighteen
respiratory viruses using multiplex PCR assay. Results Viral pathogens
were present in 56.6% (1539/2721) of enrolled cases, with the detection
rate of single virus in 39.8% cases and multiple viruses in 16.8%
cases. The most frequently detected virus was RSV (15.2%, 413/2721).
The highest detection rate of virus was in < 6 m age group
(70.7%). RSV, HMPV, HPIVs and Flu B showed the similar prevalence
pattern both in northern and south China, but HPIVs, Flu A, HBoV, HAdV
and HCoVs showed the distinct circulating patterns in northern and south
China. HEV/HRV (27.6%, 27/98), HBoV (18.4%, 18/98), RSV (16.3%,
16/98) and HMPV (14.3%, 14/98) were the most commonly detected virus in
severe pneumonia children with signal virus infection. Conclusions In
conclusion, viral pathogens are frequently detected in pediatric CAP
cases and may therefore play a vital role in the aetiology of CAP. RSV
was the most important virus in hospitalized children with CAP in
mainland China.