[Analysis of pathogen composition and epidemiological characteristics of acute respiratory infection inpatients in Pudong New Area, Shanghai from 2018 to 2023].

Objective

To understand the composition of infectious pathogens and the changes in the epidemic characteristics of inpatients with acute respiratory tract infections in Pudong New Area of Shanghai, from 2018 to 2023.

Methods

Specimens of inpatients with acute respiratory infection cases were collected from 14 healthcare institutions in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, from 2018-2023 and tested for eight respiratory pathogens: influenza virus, adenovirus, rhinovirus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, common coronavirus, metapneumovirus, and bocavirus. The groups were divided into three periods,2018-2019, 2020-2022 and 2023, and the chi-square or Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test was used to compare the group differences. The SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis.

Results

Among the 3 023 inpatients with acute respiratory infection, the positive rate of any virus was 24.25% (733/3 023). The positive rates of any virus in 2018-2019, 2020-2022, and 2023 were 33.40% (336/1 006), 12.01% (116/966), and 26.74% (281/1 051), respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (χ2=128.20, P<0.001). Among the age groups, in 2018-2019 and 2020-2022, the positive rate of any virus was the highest in the <5 years age group (46.20% and 14.64%), while in 2023, the 15-59 years age group had the highest positive rate (32.97%). The positive rate of any virus in winter was the highest in 2018-2019 (53.21%) and 2020-2022 (17.58%), and the highest in autumn was in 2023 (31.53%). The peak positive rate of respiratory syncytial virus was in winter of 2018-2019 and 2020-2022, as well as the summer of 2023.The positive rates of influenza virus in 2018-2019, 2020-2022 and 2023 were 9.84%, 1.55% and 9.71%, respectively.

Conclusions

The pathogen epidemic characteristics of inpatients with acute respiratory infection in Pudong New Area from 2018 to 2023 have shown certain changes. It is necessary to strengthen monitoring. Targeted prevention and control strategies should be developed and implemented in a timely manner.