Circulating pediatric respiratory pathogens in Taiwan during 2020: Dynamic change under low COVID-19 incidence
Background: In Taiwan, there were only 799 confirmed COVID-19 cases in 2020. The unique backdrop amidst a pandemic and promotion of nonpharmaceutical interventions generated some distinct changes in the epidemiology of common respiratory pathogens. In this study, we aimed to investigate the dynamic...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1684118222000524 |
| _version_ | 1797995003609350144 |
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| author | Jun Yi Sim Yu-Chin Chen Wei-Yun Hsu Wei-Yu Chen Yun Chou Julie Chi Chow Yi-Ching Lai Hung-Jen Tang Chi-Chung Chen Chung-Han Ho Tu-Hsuan Chang |
| author_facet | Jun Yi Sim Yu-Chin Chen Wei-Yun Hsu Wei-Yu Chen Yun Chou Julie Chi Chow Yi-Ching Lai Hung-Jen Tang Chi-Chung Chen Chung-Han Ho Tu-Hsuan Chang |
| author_sort | Jun Yi Sim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: In Taiwan, there were only 799 confirmed COVID-19 cases in 2020. The unique backdrop amidst a pandemic and promotion of nonpharmaceutical interventions generated some distinct changes in the epidemiology of common respiratory pathogens. In this study, we aimed to investigate the dynamic changes in respiratory pathogens in children during 2020. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study at a tertiary hospital in southern Taiwan during 2020. Patients aged 0–18 years who visited the pediatric emergency department were enrolled. Children who presented with clinical symptoms (fever or respiratory illness) and received nasopharyngeal swabs for multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were included in our analysis. We also compared respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) trends from previous years by PCR and lateral flow immunochromatographic assays from 2017 to 2020. Results: A total of 120 children were tested. The overall detection rate was 55%. With strengthened restrictions, the detection rate dropped from 70% to 30%. However, non-enveloped viruses (rhinovirus/enterovirus and adenovirus) were in constant circulation. Upon easing prevention measures, the detection rate remained above 60%, and an outbreak of an enveloped virus (RSV and parainfluenza virus) was noted. Compared with 2017–2019, the cyclical RSV epidemic was delayed, with a large surge in late 2020. Conclusions: We observed a constant circulation of non-enveloped viruses when strict nonpharmaceutical interventions were employed and a delayed surge of enveloped viruses during the easing of restrictions. Continuous surveillance and monitoring of the evolutionary dynamics of respiratory viruses is important, while easing restrictions requires balanced judgment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:54:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f330d3f8d8704c798c76b3310efa0805 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1684-1182 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:54:36Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection |
| spelling | doaj.art-f330d3f8d8704c798c76b3310efa08052022-12-22T04:30:42ZengElsevierJournal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection1684-11822022-12-0155611511158Circulating pediatric respiratory pathogens in Taiwan during 2020: Dynamic change under low COVID-19 incidenceJun Yi Sim0Yu-Chin Chen1Wei-Yun Hsu2Wei-Yu Chen3Yun Chou4Julie Chi Chow5Yi-Ching Lai6Hung-Jen Tang7Chi-Chung Chen8Chung-Han Ho9Tu-Hsuan Chang10Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, TaiwanDepartment of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Chiali, Tainan, TaiwanDepartment of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, TaiwanDepartment of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, TaiwanDepartment of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, TaiwanDepartment of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, TaiwanDepartment of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, TaiwanDepartment of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, TaiwanDepartment of Medical Research, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Food Science, National Chiayi University, Chiayi, TaiwanDepartment of Medical Research, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Information Management, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan, TaiwanDepartment of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan; Corresponding author. Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center No.901, Zhonghua Rd., Yongkang Dist., Tainan City, 710, Taiwan. Fax: +886 6 220 370.Background: In Taiwan, there were only 799 confirmed COVID-19 cases in 2020. The unique backdrop amidst a pandemic and promotion of nonpharmaceutical interventions generated some distinct changes in the epidemiology of common respiratory pathogens. In this study, we aimed to investigate the dynamic changes in respiratory pathogens in children during 2020. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study at a tertiary hospital in southern Taiwan during 2020. Patients aged 0–18 years who visited the pediatric emergency department were enrolled. Children who presented with clinical symptoms (fever or respiratory illness) and received nasopharyngeal swabs for multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were included in our analysis. We also compared respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) trends from previous years by PCR and lateral flow immunochromatographic assays from 2017 to 2020. Results: A total of 120 children were tested. The overall detection rate was 55%. With strengthened restrictions, the detection rate dropped from 70% to 30%. However, non-enveloped viruses (rhinovirus/enterovirus and adenovirus) were in constant circulation. Upon easing prevention measures, the detection rate remained above 60%, and an outbreak of an enveloped virus (RSV and parainfluenza virus) was noted. Compared with 2017–2019, the cyclical RSV epidemic was delayed, with a large surge in late 2020. Conclusions: We observed a constant circulation of non-enveloped viruses when strict nonpharmaceutical interventions were employed and a delayed surge of enveloped viruses during the easing of restrictions. Continuous surveillance and monitoring of the evolutionary dynamics of respiratory viruses is important, while easing restrictions requires balanced judgment.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1684118222000524COVID-19Non-enveloped virusRespiratory syncytial virusNonpharmaceutical interventionsChildren |
| spellingShingle | Jun Yi Sim Yu-Chin Chen Wei-Yun Hsu Wei-Yu Chen Yun Chou Julie Chi Chow Yi-Ching Lai Hung-Jen Tang Chi-Chung Chen Chung-Han Ho Tu-Hsuan Chang Circulating pediatric respiratory pathogens in Taiwan during 2020: Dynamic change under low COVID-19 incidence Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection COVID-19 Non-enveloped virus Respiratory syncytial virus Nonpharmaceutical interventions Children |
| title | Circulating pediatric respiratory pathogens in Taiwan during 2020: Dynamic change under low COVID-19 incidence |
| title_full | Circulating pediatric respiratory pathogens in Taiwan during 2020: Dynamic change under low COVID-19 incidence |
| title_fullStr | Circulating pediatric respiratory pathogens in Taiwan during 2020: Dynamic change under low COVID-19 incidence |
| title_full_unstemmed | Circulating pediatric respiratory pathogens in Taiwan during 2020: Dynamic change under low COVID-19 incidence |
| title_short | Circulating pediatric respiratory pathogens in Taiwan during 2020: Dynamic change under low COVID-19 incidence |
| title_sort | circulating pediatric respiratory pathogens in taiwan during 2020 dynamic change under low covid 19 incidence |
| topic | COVID-19 Non-enveloped virus Respiratory syncytial virus Nonpharmaceutical interventions Children |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1684118222000524 |
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