Microbiologia Medica (Nov 2024)

Respiratory viruses and SARS-CoV-2 virus circulation in the provinces of Lucca and Massa Carrara during the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 flu seasons

  • Veronica Cunsolo,
  • Paola Alessandra Petrocelli,
  • Chiara Bianchimani,
  • Lorenzo Sardone,
  • Veronica Brucculeri,
  • Deborah Baglini ,
  • Silvia Del Priore,
  • Valentina Lattaro,
  • Giulia Rossi,
  • Maria Nardone,
  • Stefano Rapi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4081/mm.2024.12644
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 39, no. 2

Abstract

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Background and Aims: the study aimed to investigate the circulation of influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2 in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 influenza seasons in the provinces of Lucca and Massa Carrara in the northwest of the Tuscany region. Materials and Methods: a retrospective observational study was conducted on adult and pediatric patients who accessed hospital facilities in the considered area during the influenza periods (from September to April) of 2022-23 and 2023-24. Results: the 2022-23 influenza season was characterized by the circulation of the A/H3N2 influenza virus (84% of the total), with a peak of positive samples from weeks 42 to 52 in 2022. Instead, the influenza A/(H1N1)pdm09 virus was responsible for 94% of influenza infections in the 2023-24 season, with a peak of positive samples between weeks 52 of 2023 and 3 of 2024. Conclusions: effective virological diagnostics and constant monitoring of circulating viruses are mandatory to correctly address therapy and contain the viral circulation in the different influenza seasons.

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