scholarly journals Significant impact of nationwide SARS-CoV-2 lockdown measures on the circulation of other respiratory virus infections

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Redlberger-Fritz ◽  
Michael Kundi ◽  
Stephan W Aberle ◽  
Elisabeth Puchhammer-Stöckl

Abstract Since the worldwide spread of SARS-CoV-2, different European countries reacted with temporarily nationwide lockdowns with the aim to limit the virus transmission in the population. Also Austria started a lockdown of public life in March. In this study we investigated whether the circulation of different respiratory virus infections in Austria, as assessed by using the established respiratory virus surveillance system, is affected by these measures as well and may reflect the success of the lockdown in limiting respiratory virus transmission. Sentinel data obtained for influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus and rhinovirus cases were analyzed and compared between the season 2019/ 2020 and the five previous seasons. We observed a rapid and statistically significant reduction of cumulative cases for all these viruses within short time after the lockdown in March 2020, compared to previous seasons (each p<0.001). Also, sentinel screening for SARS-CoV-2 infections was performed and a decrease of SARS-CoV-2 was seen after the lockdown. While for the seasonally occurring viruses as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus or human metapneumovirus the lockdown led to the end of the annual epidemics, a re-increase of rhinovirus infections was observed after liberalization of numerous lockdown measures. Our data provide evidence that occurrence of different respiratory virus infections reflect not only the efficiency of lockdown measures taken against SARS-CoV-2 but also the effects of their release on respiratory transmission.

2003 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Martino ◽  
Elena Rámila ◽  
Núria Rabella ◽  
José Manuel Muñoz ◽  
Mercé Peyret ◽  
...  

Abstract During a 2-year period, 157 consecutive episodes of respiratory virus infections that occurred in 130 patients with upper or lower respiratory tract infection were analyzed for respiratory viruses. A respiratory virus was identified in 75 episodes (48%), and several viruses were found in 13 episodes: there were a total of 56 influenza A virus infections, 14 respiratory syncytial virus infections, 8 adenovirus infections, 8 infections with parainfluenza virus types 1 or 3, and 7 enterovirus infections. On multivariate analysis, the only variable that predicted progression to pneumonia in patients with an upper respiratory tract infection was the presence of respiratory syncytial virus, whereas lymphocytopenia had a nonsignificant trend. Also, among the 38 patients who had pneumonia at any time during the episode, both respiratory syncytial virus and lymphocytopenia were commonly found. For both epidemiological and therapeutic considerations, frequent screening for respiratory viruses should be incorporated into the routine diagnostic study of patients with hematologic malignancies.


Author(s):  
Anna Chiara Vittucci ◽  
Livia Piccioni ◽  
Luana Coltella ◽  
Claudia Ciarlitto ◽  
Livia Antilici ◽  
...  

Background: Social distancing measures are used to reduce the spreading of COVID-19. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of local restrictions on the transmission of respiratory virus infections. Methods: we retrospectively analyzed the nasopharyngeal samples of all patients (0–18 years old) admitted with respiratory symptoms in a large Italian tertiary hospital during the last three seasons from 2018 to 2021. Results: A strong reduction in all viral respiratory infections was observed in the last season (2020–2021) compared to the two previous seasons (−79.69% and −80.66%, respectively). In particular, we found that during the epidemic period 2018–2019 and 2019–2020, the total number of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) cases was, respectively 726 and 689, while in the last season a total of five cases was detected. In the first months of 2018–2019 and 2019–2020, the total flu infections were 240 and 354, respectively, while in the last season we did not detect any influenza virus. As other viruses, the presence of Rhinovirus declined, but to a lesser extent: a total of 488 cases were assessed compared to the 1030 and 1165 cases of the two previous respective epidemic seasons. Conclusions: Public health interventions and distancing (including continuous use of face masks) settled to counter the pandemic spread of COVID-19 had a macroscopic impact on all respiratory virus transmission and related diseases, with a partial exception of Rhinovirus. The absence of viruses’ circulation could result in a lack of immunity and increased susceptibility to serious infections in the next seasons.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S423-S424
Author(s):  
Joshua G Petrie ◽  
Adam S Lauring ◽  
Keith S Kaye

Abstract Background Influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are recognized as important causes of hospital-acquired infection. Increased use of multiplex molecular diagnostic testing is shedding light on the incidence of other hospital-associated respiratory virus infections (HA-RVI). However, the incidence and clinical impact of HA-RVI are not well understood. Methods We identified hospitalized patients admitted between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018 who were clinically tested to diagnose respiratory virus infections. HA-RVI were defined as respiratory virus positivity beginning more than 48 hours after hospital admission. The clinical outcomes of HA-RVI were compared with respiratory virus infections that were not considered hospital-associated (non-HA-RVI). Results Respiratory virus testing was performed on 4,690 individuals during 5,942 inpatient encounters. At least 1 virus was identified in 1,871 (31%) encounters, and 229 (12%) were defined as HA-RVI (median hours from admission to positivity [IQR]: 154 [79, 308]). Among the patients with a respiratory virus infection, 56% were adults, 52% were male, 77% were non-Hispanic white, and the median Charlson score was 2 (IQR: 1, (4); HA-RVI patients were more likely to be male (59% vs. 51%, P = 0.01) and had higher median Charlson scores (3 vs. 2, P < 0.001). All 14 respiratory viruses in the diagnostic panel were positive for at least one HA-RVI (Figure 1), but rhino/enterovirus (99), influenza A (27), human metapneumovirus (22) and respiratory syncytial virus (20) were most common. Compared with non-HA-RVI patients, those with HA-RVI had longer post-infection lengths of stay (median: 9 vs. 4 days, P < 0.001) and were more likely to die during hospitalization (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 3.4 [2.0, 5.7]) (Table 1). Conclusion A substantial number of HA-RVI were identified during the 2017–2018 respiratory virus season, and they were associated with a striking number of severe outcomes. More in depth analyses are required to determine whether severe outcomes are a direct result of HA-RVI or whether HA-RVI are more common in critically ill patients and serve as a marker for severe morbidity. A broader understanding of HA-RVI transmission and prevention strategies is needed. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (11) ◽  
pp. 1107-1111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Furuta ◽  
Shunji Hasegawa ◽  
Makoto Mizutani ◽  
Takashi Iwai ◽  
Noriko Ohbuchi ◽  
...  

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Porotto ◽  
M. Ferren ◽  
Y.-W. Chen ◽  
Y. Siu ◽  
N. Makhsous ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTInfectious viruses so precisely fit their hosts that the study of natural viral infection depends on host-specific mechanisms that affect viral infection. For human parainfluenza virus 3, a prevalent cause of lower respiratory tract disease in infants, circulating human viruses are genetically different from viruses grown in standard laboratory conditions; the surface glycoproteins that mediate host cell entry on circulating viruses are suited to the environment of the human lung and differ from those of viruses grown in cultured cells. Polarized human airway epithelium cultures have been used to represent the large, proximal airways of mature adult airways. Here we modeled respiratory virus infections that occur in children or infect the distal lung using lung organoids that represent the entire developing infant lung. These 3D lung organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells contain mesoderm and pulmonary endoderm and develop into branching airway and alveolar structures. Whole-genome sequencing analysis of parainfluenza viruses replicating in the organoids showed maintenance of nucleotide identity, suggesting that no selective pressure is exerted on the virus in this tissue. Infection with parainfluenza virus led to viral shedding without morphological changes, while respiratory syncytial virus infection induced detachment and shedding of infected cells into the lung organoid lumens, reminiscent of parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial virus in human infant lungs. Measles virus infection, in contrast, induced syncytium formation. These human stem cell-derived lung organoids may serve as an authentic model for respiratory viral pathogenesis in the developing or infant lung, recapitulating respiratory viral infection in the host.IMPORTANCERespiratory viruses are among the first pathogens encountered by young children, and the significant impact of these viral infections on the developing lung is poorly understood. Circulating viruses are suited to the environment of the human lung and are different from those of viruses grown in cultured cells. We modeled respiratory virus infections that occur in children or infect the distal lung using lung organoids that represent the entire developing infant lung. These 3D lung organoids, derived from human pluripotent stem cells, develop into branching airway and alveolar structures and provide a tissue environment that maintains the authentic viral genome. The lung organoids can be genetically engineered prior to differentiation, thereby generating tissues bearing or lacking specific features that may be relevant to viral infection, a feature that may have utility for the study of host-pathogen interaction for a range of lung pathogens.


2017 ◽  
Vol 216 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Moe ◽  
Inger Heimdal Stenseng ◽  
Sidsel Krokstad ◽  
Andreas Christensen ◽  
Lars Høsøien Skanke ◽  
...  

2006 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel F. Garcia ◽  
Peter W. Hiatt ◽  
Alan Jewell ◽  
Shauna L. Schoonover ◽  
Stanley G. Cron ◽  
...  

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