Open AccessIncidence and etiology of hospitalized acute respiratory infections in the Egyptian Delta
Author(s) -
Rowlinson Emily,
Dueger Erica,
Mansour Adel,
Azzazy Nahed,
Mansour Hoda,
Peters Lisa,
Rosenstock Summer,
Hamid Sarah,
Said Mayar M.,
Geneidy Mohamed,
Abd Allah Monier,
Kandeel Amr
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
influenza and other respiratory viruses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.743
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1750-2659
pISSN - 1750-2640
DOI - 10.1111/irv.12409
Subject(s) - medicine , incidence (geometry) , human metapneumovirus , etiology , population , epidemiology , pediatrics , respiratory tract infections , pathogen , pneumonia , respiratory system , immunology , environmental health , physics , optics
Acute Respiratory Infections ( ARI ) are responsible for nearly two million childhood deaths worldwide. A limited number of studies have been published on the epidemiology of viral respiratory pathogens in Egypt. Methods A total of 6113 hospitalized patients >1 month of age with suspected ARI were enrolled between June 23, 2009 and December 31, 2013. Naso‐ and oropharyngeal specimens were collected and tested for influenza A and B, respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus, adenovirus, and parainfluenza viruses 1–3. Blood specimens from children 1–11 months were cultured and bacterial growth was identified by polymerase chain reaction. Results from a healthcare utilization survey on the proportion of persons seeking care for ARI was used to calculate adjusted ARI incidence rates in the surveillance population. Results The proportion of patients with a viral pathogen detected decreased with age from 67% in patients age 1–11 months to 19% in patients ≥65 years of age. Influenza was the dominant viral pathogen detected in patients ≥1 year of age (13.9%). The highest incidence rates for hospitalized ARI were observed in children 1–11 months (1757.9–5537.5/100 000 population) and RSV was the most commonly detected pathogen in this age group. Conclusion In this study population, influenza is the largest viral contributor to hospitalized ARI s and children 1–11 months of age experience a high rate of ARI hospitalizations. This study highlights a need for surveillance of additional viral pathogens and alternative detection methods for bacterial pathogens, which may reveal a substantial proportion of as yet unidentified etiologies in adults.