Respiratory syncytial virus and other respiratory viral infections in older adults with moderate to severe influenza-like illness.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Few studies have prospectively assessed viral etiologies of acute respiratory infections in community-based elderly individuals. We assessed viral respiratory pathogens in individuals ≥65 years with influenza-like illness (ILI).

Methods

Multiplex reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction identified viral pathogens in nasal/throat swabs from 556 episodes of moderate-to-severe ILI, defined as ILI with pneumonia, hospitalization, or maximum daily influenza symptom severity score (ISS) >2. Cases were selected from a randomized trial of an adjuvanted vs nonadjuvanted influenza vaccine conducted in elderly adults from 15 countries.

Results

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was detected in 7.4% (41/556) moderate-to-severe ILI episodes in elderly adults. Most

SUBMITTER: Falsey AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4038137 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature