Respiratory viruses causing severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) in hospitalized patients in Quang Ninh General Hospital, 2018 - 2019

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) is one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death among children worldwide. In total, 653 throat/nasopharyngeal swabs were sampled in Quang Ninh General Hospital, one of two sites of surveillance system in Northern Vietnam, in 2018 - 2019. The overall positive of viruses was 60.9%, influenza virus 26%, other respiratory viruses 34.8%. Among positive samples, 314 samples were positive with the single virus, 3 samples co-infected with 2 subtypes influenza virus and 21 double respiratory viruses other than influenza. Influenza virus A/H1N1pdm09 accounted for the highest rate of 11.6%; followed by RSV (10.6%); influenza A/H3 and Rhinoviruses in 8.4% and 8.1%, respectively. Influenza B, Adeno, hMPV, and PIV - 1,2,3 accounted for the rate from 0.8% to 5.6%. Influenza circulated throughout the year with peaks in winter - spring seasons, RSV and Rhinovirus predominant in summer, mainly in infants and young children under 5 years of age. Further research to evaluate the role of respiratory viruses in the severe progression of SARI is necessary for Vietnam.