Sun Hyung Kim; Ji Hoon Huh; Sook-Young Bae; Jang-Su Kim; Soo-Young Yoon; Chae-Seung Lim; Yunjung Cho; Young-Kee Kim; Kap-No Lee; Chang Kyu Lee

doi:10.3343/kjlm.2006.26.5.351

Journal List > Korean J Lab Med > v.26(5) > 1011341

Go to TopGo to Top Go to BottomGo to Bottom

TOOLS

Kim, Huh, Bae, Kim, Yoon, Lim, Cho, Kim, Lee, and Lee: Epidemiology of Respiratory Viral Infection in 2004–2006

Original Article

Korean J Leg Med 2006;26(5):351-357.

Published online: 10 February 2006

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3343/kjlm.2006.26.5.351

Epidemiology of Respiratory Viral Infection in 2004–2006

Sun Hyung Kim, M.D., Ji Hoon Huh, M.D., Sook-Young Bae, M.D., Jang-Su Kim, M.D., Soo-Young Yoon, M.D., Chae-Seung Lim, M.D., Yunjung Cho, M.D., Young-Kee Kim, M.D., Kap-No Lee, M.D., Chang Kyu Lee, M.D.

Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea

Received 14 July 2006 Revised 4 August 2006 Accepted 7 August 2006

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Background

The information on the incidence, seasonal variation and clinical pattern of respiratory virus infections is very important for clinicians in managing their patients. This study was aimed to define the epidemiology of respiratory viral pathogens in Seoul and the neighboring areas from March 2004 to February 2006.

Methods

A total of 6,533 specimens were cultured for respiratory viruses during the study period. Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK), LLC-MK2, and HEp-2 cells, or R-mix cells (Diagnostic Hybrids Inc., Athens, Ohio, USA) were used for culture. Influenza virus types A & B (Inf A & B), parainfluenza virus (PIV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and adenovirus (ADV) were identified by indirect immunofluorescent staining. Medical records of the patients with positive virus cultures were reviewed retrospectively.

Results

One or more viral agents were isolated from 1682 specimens (25.7%). The pathogens identified were RSV 37.2%, ADV 19.9%, Inf A 18.9%, PIV 17.5% and Inf B 6.4%. The most frequent pathogen of pneumonia and acute bronchiolitis was RSV and that of croup was PIV. Upper respiratory tract infections were more prevalent in adults and the most frequently caused by influenza virus. Influenza virus itself was more frequently isolated in children less than six years old, which was different from previous reports. Influenza virus was mostly isolated in the winter and spring, while RSV was usually isolated from early fall with a peak incidence in the winter. Inf A and RSV showed a dampening effect on the occurrence of other viruses during their major epidemic. PIV was mostly detected in the spring and summer. ADV was isolated throughout the whole year.

Conclusions

The epidemiological characteristics of respiratory virus infections in Seoul and the neighboring areas in 2004–2006, were similar to the findings of previous reports except for some minor changes. These findings could be useful to clinicians in managing their patients.

Keywords: Respiratory virus infection, Culture, Epidemiology

References

1. Organizacion Panamericana de la Salud. Nuevo programa de enfermedades no transmisibles de la OPS: el predominio mundial y regional de las enfermedades no transmisibles/New non-communicable diseases program at PAHO: the global and regional predominance of non-communicable diseases. Bol Epidemiol. 1995; 16:6–8.

2. Garbino J, Gerbase MW, Wunderli W, Deffernez C, Thomas Y, Rochat T, et al. Lower respiratory viral illnesses: improved diagnosis by molecular methods and clinical impact. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2004; 170:1197–203.

3. Selwyn BJ. The epidemiology of acute respiratory tract infection in young children: comparison of findings from several developing countries. Coordinated Data Group of BOSTID Researchers. Rev Infect Dis. 1990; 12:S870–88.

4. Shann F. Etiology of severe pneumonia in children in developing countries. Pediatr Infect Dis. 1986; 5:247–52.

5. Bonner AB, Monroe KW, Talley LI, Klasner AE, Kimberlin DW. Impact of the rapid diagnosis of influenza on physician decisionmaking and patient management in the pediatric emergency department: results of a randomized, prospective, controlled trial. Pediatrics. 2003; 112:363–7.

6. Berman S, Duenas A, Bedoya A, Constain V, Leon S, Borrero I, et al. Acute lower respiratory illnesses in Cali, Columbia: a two-year ambulatory study. Pediatrics. 1983; 71:210–8.

7. Maletzky AJ, Cooney MK, Luce R, Kenny GE, Grayston JT. Epidemiology of viral and mycoplasmal agents associated with childhood lower respiratory illness in a civilian population. J Pediatr. 1971; 78:407–14.

8. Ruutu P, Halonen P, Meurman O, Torres C, Paladin F, Yamaoka K, et al. Viral lower respiratory tract infections in Filipino children. J Infect Dis. 1990; 161:175–9.

9. Sunakorn P, Chunchit L, Niltawat S, Wangweerawong M, Jacobs RF. Epidemiology of acute respiratory infections in young children from Thailand. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1990; 9:873–7.

10. Denny FW, Clyde WA Jr. Acute lower respiratory tract infections in nonhospitalized children. J Pediatr. 1986; 108:635–46.

11. Park HY, Lee NY, Lee JS, Jung EH, Lee SJ, Ahn KM, et al. An epidemiological study of acute viral lower respiratory tract infections in hospitalized children from 1996 to 2002 in Seoul, Korea. Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis. 2003; 13:216–26.

12. Gubareva LV, Kaiser L, Hayden FG. Influenza virus neuraminidase inhibitors. Lancet. 2000; 355:827–35.

13. Hwang YO, Seo BT, Choi BH. Analysis of isolation and subtyping of influenza virus in Seoul, during 1999–2003. J Bacteriol Virol. 2004; 34:67–74.

14. Lee MY, Gong YW, Oh BY, Jung SH, Kim HY, Lee JM. Epidemiological analysis of influenza by laboratory surveillance in Incheon, 2003/2004–2004/2005. Korean J Clin Microbiol. 2005; 8:165–71.

15. Tseng RK, Chen HY, Hong CB. Influenza virus infections in Taiwan from 1979 to 1995. Jpn J Med Sci Biol. 1996; 49:77–93.

16. Glezen WP. Emerging infections: pandemic influenza. Epidemiol Rev. 1996; 18:64–76.

17. Nah SY, Park SE, Park JY, Lee HJ. Epidemiology of influenza virus over 8 years (1990–1998) in Seoul, Korea. Korean J Infect Dis. 1999; 31:210–6.

18. Hall CB, Douglas RG Jr. Respiratory syncytial virus and influenza. Practical community surveillance. Am J Dis Child. 1976; 136:615–20.

19. Denny FW, Murphy TF, Clyde WA Jr, Collier AM, Henderson FW. Croup: an 11-year study in a pediatric practice. Pediatrics. 1983; 71:871–6.

20. Muller-Pebody B, Edmunds WJ, Zambon MC, Gay NJ, Crowcroft NS. Contribution of RSV to bronchiolitis and pneumonia-associated hospitalizations in English children, April 1995-March 1998. Epidemiol Infect. 2002; 129:99–106.

21. Jeon NL, Kim BS, Hong SJ, Kim YK. Etiology and clinical features of severe acute viral lower respiratory tract infections in children. J Korean Pediatr Soc. 2000; 43:1558–68.

22. Lee SY, Oh JW, Lee HB, Lee HR, Ahn KM, Lee SI. Epidemiology of childhood viral respiratory tract infections in Seoul. Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis. 1999; 9:100–8.

23. Lee HJ, Yun BY, Kim ML, Yun JG. Viral etiology and epidemiology of actue lower respiratory tract infections in children. Korean J Infec Dis. 1995; 27:319–32.

24. Irmen KE, Kelleher JJ. Use of monoclonal antibodies for rapid diagnosis of respiratory viruses in a community hospital. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 2000; 7:396–403.

25. Pyo JW, Lee HJ. Adenoviral respiratory tract infections in children. Korean J Infect Dis. 1996; 28:493–501.

26. Glezen WP. Influenza surveillance in an urban area. Can J Infect Dis. 1993; 4:272–4.

Fig. 1.

Seasonal distribution of respiratory virus isolation.

Fig. 2.

The local distribution of influenza virus type A from November, 2005 to February, 2006. Ansan showed earlier epidemic of influenza virus type A than other areas.

Table 1.

Prevalence of viral pathogens according to age

Age (years)	N. of viruses identified (%)
Age (years)	Inf A	Inf B	PIV	RSV	ADA	RSV & ADV	Total
<1	52	10	92	342	47	1	544 (32)
1–2	44	13	108	145	88	0	398 (24)
2–3	42	16	42	78	57	1	236 (14)
3–4	30	10	30	34	55	0	159 (10)
4–5	24	13	6	11	44	0	98 (6)
5–6	13	2	6	0	19	0	40 (2)
6–7	15	2	1	3	9	0	30 (2)
7–8	15	5	1	0	4	0	25 (2)
8–9	10	0	1	0	2	0	13 (1)
9–10	11	1	0	0	3	0	15 (1)
10–20	18	3	3	1	4	0	29 (2)
>20	44	33	4	11	3	0	95 (6)
Total	318 (19)	108 (6)	294 (18)	625 (37)	335 (20)	2 (0.1)	1682 (100)

Abbreviations: Inf A, influenza virus type A; Inf B, influenza virus type B; PIV, parainfluenza virus; RSV, respiratory syncytial virus; ADV, adenovirus.

Table 2.

Prevalence of causative viruses according to clinical diagnosis in pediatric patients

Clinical diagnosis	N. of viruses identified (%)
Clinical diagnosis	Inf A	Inf B	PIV	RSV	ADA	RSV & ADV	Total
URI	102	19	35	20	147	0	323 (20)
LRI
Croup	51	12	98	37	28	0	226 (14)
A. bronchiolitis	11	2	31	156	9	1	210 (13)
Pneumonia	100	40	112	393	132	1	778 (49)
Others	11	2	14	8	16	0	51 (3)

Abbreviations: URI, upper respiratory tract infection; LRI, lower respiratory tract infection; A. bronchiolitis, acute bronchiolitis; Inf A, influenza virus type A; Inf B, influenza virus type B; PIV, parainfluenza virus; RSV, respiratory syncytial virus; ADV, adenovirus.

Table 3.

Prevalence of causative viruses according to clinical diagnosis in adult patients

Clinical diagnosis	N. of viruses identified (%)
Clinical diagnosis	Inf A	Inf B	PIV	RSV	ADA	Total
URI	31	24	0	1	2	58 (61)
LRI	6	6	2	3	1	18 (19)
Others	7	3	2	7	0	19 (20)
Total	44	33	4	11	3	95 (100)

Abbreviations: URI, upper respiratory tract infection; LRI, lower respiratory tract infection; Inf A, influenza virus type A; Inf B, influenza virus type B; PIV, parainfluenza virus; RSV, respiratory syncytial virus; ADV, adenovirus.

TOOLS

Similar articles