Identification of respiratory viral infection agents by multiplex real-time PCR among children hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia in Konya province

Objective: Aim of this study was to evaluate the identification of viral pneumonia agents among children who were diagnosed and hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) by using molecular diagnostic techniques. Method: Sixty four children hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia were included in the study in order to identify viral pneumonia agents in the province of Konya. The study was carried out in between October 2009 and December 2010. Nasopharyngeal smears were obtained from children patients aged 1 month to 8 years who were diagnosed as community-acquired pneumonia. Multiplex real time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was performed for detection of existence of viral pneumonia agents such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus, influenza and parainfluenza viruses on admission. Results: Of all the 64 patients, 22 (34.4%) were positive for viral infections, 5 (7.7 %) were positive for bacterial infections, and 2 (3.1%) were positive for both viral and bacterial infections . A sole viral infection was identified in 20 (31.2%) and a sole bacterial infection in 3 (4.6%) cases. Influenza A virus (3.1%), parainfluenza type 1, 2, 3 viruses (3.1%), respiratory syncytial virus (23.4%) and adenovirus (4.6%) were found as causative viruses. Influenza B virus was not detected in any of cases. No possible etiologic agent was found in 37 cases (57.9%). Respiratory syncytial virus (23.4%) and adenovirus (4.6%) were the most commonly detected viral pathogens. There was no mortality during the study. Conclusion: This study showed that the viruses commonly detected as the causative agents of community-acquired pneumonia among the hospitalized children aged between 1 month and 8 years. Improving the etiological diagnosis of viral infections may definitely contribute to avoid unnecessary therapy, particularly antibiotics and allow for preventive isolation of infected patients. Performing more and new studies focusing on defining the role of viruses at the etiology of community-acquired pneumonia among hospitalized children will help establishment of true policies on the treatment of these patients.