Diagnostic value of respiratory virus detection in symptomatic children using real-time PCR

Abstract

Abstract Background Acute respiratory tract infections are an important public health problem. Sensitive and rapid diagnostic techniques have been developed and are used in daily clinical practice. Here we evaluate the clinical relevance of detecting 20 common respiratory pathogens by molecular methods in a general pediatric clinic. Methods Nasopharynx samples of children Mycoplasma pneumoniae, using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results Of 177 patients included in this retrospective study, 73% were positive for at least one virus. Respiratory syncytial virus (36.6%) and human rhinovirus (24%) were most frequently detected. Patients in whom a respiratory virus or Mycoplasma pneumoniae was detected, were younger (6 versus 24 months; p In the majority of cases, clinicians did not change their antibiotic management after detecting a viral respiratory pathogen. No difference in mean Ct value was found between patients with one respiratory pathogen and those with >1 respiratory pathogen (30.5 versus 31.2; p = 0.573). Conclusion Routine testing of common respiratory pathogens could lead to a better understanding of their role in disease in children with respiratory symptoms.

Keywords

• Respiratory virus
• Real-time PCR
• Clinical impact
• Ct value
• Children