Resurgence of common respiratory viruses in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP)—A prospective multicenter study
Theo Dähne, Wolfgang Bauer, Andreas Essig, Bernhard Schaaf, Grit Barten-Neiner, Christoph D. Spinner, Mathias W. Pletz, Gernot Rohde, Jan Rupp, Martin Witzenrath, Marcus Panning, André Fuchs, M. Engelmannn, Daiana Stolz, Wolfgang Bauer, H.C. Mücke, Norbert Suttorp, Martin Witzenrath, S. Schmager, Bernhard Schaaf, Julius Kremling, Daniela Nickoleit-Bitzenberger, H. Azzaui, Martin Hower, F. Hempel, Katharina Prebeg, Kalina Popkirova, Martin Kolditz, Gernot Rohde, Carla Bellinghausen, Achim Grünewaldt, Marcus Panning, Tobias Welte, Thomas Fühner, Maryse van’t Klooster, Grit Barten-Neiner, W. Kröner, Ol. Unruh, Nina Adaskina, F. Eberherdt, Christina Julius, Thomas Illig, N. Klopp, Mathias W. Pletz, Benjamin T. Schleenvoigt, Christina Forstner, Anne Moeser, Juliane Ankert, D. Drömannn, P. Parschke, Klaas Franzen, Jan Rupp, N. Käding, Frederike Waldeck, Christoph D. Spinner, Johanna Erber, Florian Voit, Jochen Schneider, David F. Heigener, I. Hering, Werner C. Albrich, Marco Seneghini, Frank Rassouli, S. Baldesberger, A. Essig, Steffen Stenger, M. Wallner, Heinz Burgmann, Ludwig Traby, Lisa Schubert, Ruoling Chen
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major global cause of death and hospitalization. Bacteria or community-acquired viruses (CARVs) cause CAP. COVID-19 associated restrictions effectively reduced the circulation of CARVs. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the proportion of CARVs in adult patients with CAP from mid-2020 to mid-2023. Specifically, we aimed to compare the rate of influenza virus, SARS-CoV-2, and RSV detections in patients aged 18-59 years and ≥60 years. STUDY DESIGN: We analyze the proportion of 21 community-acquired respiratory viruses (CARVs) and three atypical bacteria (Bordetella pertussis, Legionella pneumophila, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae) in nasopharyngeal swab samples using molecular multiplex methods within the prospective, multicentre, multinational study of the German study Group CAPNETZ. We used stringent inclusion criteria throughout the study. RESULTS: We identified CARVs in 364/1,388 (26.2 %) patients. In detail, we detected SARS-CoV-2 in 210/1,388 (15.1 %), rhino-/enterovirus in 64/1,388 (4.6 %), influenza virus in 23/1,388 (1.6 %) and RSV in 17/1,388 (1.2 %) of all patients. We detected RSV and influenza more frequently in patients ≥60 years, especially in 22/23 compared to the previous season. None of the atypical bacteria were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Beginning in 2023, we demonstrate a re-emergence of CARVs in CAP patients. Effective vaccines or specific antiviral therapies for more than two thirds of the detected viral infections are currently available. High detection rates of vaccine-preventable viruses in older age groups support targeted vaccination campaigns.