Prevalence and distribution of respiratory pathogens in pediatric acute respiratory infections in Putian, China

作者：Jinwei Zhu, Suqing Wu, Yan Chen, Liping Zheng · 发表于：BMC Infectious Diseases · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1186/s12879-025-10670-7 · 被引用次数：17 · 研究领域：Respiratory viral infections research、Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections、Influenza Virus Research Studies

BACKGROUND: Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) are a significant source of morbidity among pediatric populations. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and distribution of respiratory pathogens in pediatric ARIs in Putian, China. METHODS: This retrospective study included 3,790 pediatric patients with suspected ARIs, evaluated between March 2023 and February 2024. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained and analyzed via reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect eleven common respiratory pathogens. Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate the distribution of these pathogens across various patient demographics, including gender, age, and season. RESULTS: This study included 3,790 pediatric patients under 14 years (median age: 4.3 years, IQR: 1-7). Pathogen positivity was 78.9%, with higher rates in school-age children and during autumn and winter (P < 0.001), with Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) as the most common pathogen (33.4%), followed by human rhinovirus (HRV; 15.0%) and human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV; 12.1%). Single-pathogen detections dominated (81.9%), while co-detections (18.1%) were primarily dual-pathogen cases, with HRV + Mp as the leading combination. Pathogen distribution varied significantly by age: Mp detection rates escalated with age, peaking in school-age children, while HRSV and HRV predominated in infants and toddlers. Seasonal trends revealed distinct pathogen activity: Influenza A (InfA) peaked during spring, Mp d...