Analysis on viral infection in acute respiratory infection cases in adults in Shanghai, 2020−2022

  Objective  To investigate the etiological and epidemiological characteristics of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in adults in Shanghai from 2020 to 2022 and provide evidence for the effective prevention and control of acute respiratory tract infection.

  Methods  Basic information and respiratory tract samples of 4325 ARI cases were collected from sentinel hospitals in Shanghai during 2020−2022. Respiratory viruses were detected by multiple fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the results were statistically analyzed using software Excel 2211 and IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0.

  Results  The overall positive rate of respiratory viruses in 4325 samples was 20.72% (896/4325). The incidence peak of respiratory viral infection occurred in winter. The virus with the highest detection rate was rhinovirus/enterovirus (HRV/HEV) in 2020, and influenza B virus during 2021−2022. The detection rates of influenza viruses and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) were higher in winter and spring. The detection rates of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and parainfluenza virus (PIV) were higher in autumn and winter. HRV/HEV infection could be observed throughout the year. While there was no significant differences in the detection rates of human coronavirus (HCoV), adenovirus (ADV) and human Boca virus (HBoV) among different seasons. Influenza virus was the most frequently detected virus in ARI cases in young and middle-aged or elderly adults, and the detection rate of HRV/HEV was highest in the elderly group.

  Conclusion  Influenza B virus and HRV/HEV were the main viral pathogens of ARI, and the epidemiological characteristics of infections of different respiratory viruses varied in different age groups and seasons. Specific etiological surveillance and control strategies should be taken in the future.