Multiplex PCR in diagnosing respiratory tract infections in hospitalized children

Popova, Gorica and Jakjovska, Tatjana and Arnaudova-Danevska, Ivana and Boskovska, Katerina and Smilevska-Spasovska, Olga (2024) Multiplex PCR in diagnosing respiratory tract infections in hospitalized children. Pril (Makedon Akad Nauk Umet Odd Med Nauki), 45 (1). pp. 61-68. ISSN ISSN 1857-9345

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Abstract

Objectives: To elaborate the utility of multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction (multiplex qPCR)
for the accurate diagnosis of severe respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in hospitalized children.
Methods: In two separate periods during 2022, 76 respiratory specimens (combined throat/nasopharyngeal
swabs) were submitted for multiplex qPCR regarding 26 respiratory pathogens. The specimens
were obtained from children with severe RTIs hospitalized in the Institute for Respiratory Diseases in
Children, Skopje.
Results: Multiplex qPCR detected at least one respiratory pathogen in all examined specimens (76/76),
with 83% (63/76) rate of co-infections. Considering that positive results are only the ones with Ct value
below 28, the rates of detected pathogens and co-infections decrease to 75% and 22%, respectively. The
most commonly detected pathogens during the spring period were Parainfluenza type 3 (PIV3) followed
by Adenovirus (AdV) and Respiratory syncytial virus type B (RSVB) with frequency rate of 23%, 19%
and 19%, respectively. During the autumn period, the most common were RSVB and Streptococcus pneumoniae
with frequency rate of 31% and 17%, respectively.
Conclusion: Multiplex qPCR is a powerful tool for diagnosing RTIs. Semi-quantification of the viral
load by reporting Ct values added higher level of evidence for accurate diagnosis. Seasonal detection of
the examined viruses was notable with higher prevalence of PIV3 in spring and RSVB in autumn period.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Multiplex qPCR, Respiratory tract infections, children
Subjects:	Medical and Health Sciences > Basic medicine Medical and Health Sciences > Clinical medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Medical Science
Depositing User:	Gorica Popova
Date Deposited:	15 Apr 2024 07:18
Last Modified:	15 Apr 2024 07:18
URI:	https://eprints.ugd.edu.mk/id/eprint/34013

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