A survey strategy for human respiratory syncytial virus detection among haematopoietic stem cell transplant patients: epidemiological and methodological analysis

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2013 Feb;108(1):119-22. doi: 10.1590/s0074-02762013000100021.

Abstract

Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) causes severe infections among children and immunocompromised patients. We compared HRSV infections among Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant program (HSCT) patients and children using direct immunofluorescence (DFA), point-of-care RSV Bio Easy® and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Overall, 102 samples from HSCT patients and 128 from children obtained positivity rate of 18.6% and 14.1% respectively. PCR sensitivity was highest mainly on samples collected after five days of symptoms onset. A combination of both DFA and reverse transcriptase-PCR methods for HSCT high-risk patients is the best diagnostic flow for HRSV diagnosis among these patients.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / surgery
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Middle Aged
  • Nasopharynx / virology
  • RNA, Viral / analysis
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / diagnosis*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / epidemiology
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / genetics*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • RNA, Viral