Small quantities of respiratory syncytial virus RNA only in large droplets around infants hospitalized with acute respiratory infections

Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control

Jérôme O. Wishaupt¹  Theo M. Bestebroer²  Jeroen J. A. van Kampen²  Dennis de Meulder²  Ron A. M. Fouchier²  Jasmin S. Kutter²  Richard Molenkamp²  Sander Herfst²  Pieter L. A. Fraaij³ 

[1] Department of Pediatrics, Reinier de Graaf Hospital, Delft, The Netherlands;Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, Dr. Molewaterplein 50, 3015 GE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands;Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, Dr. Molewaterplein 50, 3015 GE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands;Department of Pediatrics, Subdivision Infectious Diseases, Immunology and Rheumatology, Erasmus MC - Sophia, Rotterdam, The Netherlands;

关键词: Air sampling;    Viable six-stage Andersen cascade impactor;    Respiratory syncytial virus;    Transmission routes;    Droplet transmission;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13756-021-00968-x

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of respiratory tract infections in young children. The predominant transmission routes for RSV are still a matter of debate. Specifically, it remains unclear if RSV can be transmitted through the air and what the correlation is between the amount of RSV in nasopharynx samples and in the air.MethodsThe amount of RSV in the air around hospitalized RSV infected infants in single-patient rooms was quantified using a six-stage Andersen cascade impactor that collects and fractionates aerosols and droplets according to size. RSV shedding in the nasopharynx of patients was followed longitudinally by quantifying RSV RNA levels and infectious virus in nasopharyngeal aspirates. Nose and throat swabs of parents and swabs of the patient’s bedrail and a datalogger were also collected.ResultsPatients remained RSV positive during the air sampling period and infectious virus was isolated up to 9 days post onset of symptoms. In three out of six patients, low levels of RSV RNA, but no infectious virus, were recovered from impactor collection plates that capture large droplets > 7 μm. For four of these patients, one or both parents were also positive for RSV. All surface swabs were RSV-negative.ConclusionsDespite the prolonged detection of infectious RSV in the nasopharynx of patients, only small amounts of RSV RNA were collected from the air around three out of six patients, which were primarily contained in large droplets which do not remain suspended in the air for long periods of time.

【 授权许可】

CC BY