Can Analysis of Routine Viral Testing Provide Accurate Estimates of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease Burden in Adults?

Department

Medicine

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

The Journal of Infectious Diseases

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is increasingly recognized as a significant cause of adult respiratory illness. We evaluated routine viral testing and discharge diagnoses for identifying RSV and influenza burden. Polymerase chain reaction results performed in adults during emergency room visits or hospitalizations were reviewed. Peak RSV activity preceded influenza activity by 8 weeks. The ratio of total number of viral tests performed divided by total number of respiratory visits was higher during influenza than RSV peaks (1.31 vs 0.72; P = .0001). Influenza and RSV were listed primary diagnoses in 56 (30%) vs 7 (6%), respectively (P < .0001). Routine viral testing to estimate adult RSV disease burden has limitations.

First Page

1706

Last Page

1710

DOI

10.1093/infdis/jix196

Volume

215

Issue

11

Publication Date

6-1-2017

Medical Subject Headings

Adult; Diagnostic Tests, Routine (statistics & numerical data); Humans; Influenza, Human; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections (diagnosis, epidemiology, virology); Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human; Retrospective Studies; Virology (statistics & numerical data)

PubMed ID

28863444

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