Tweet
Int J Infect Dis. 2017 Jun 15. pii: S1201-9712(17)30165-0. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2017.06.011. [Epub ahead of print]
Surveillance of upper respiratory infections by using newly multiplex PCR assay compared to conventional methods during influenza season in Taiwan.
Chiu SC1, Lin YC2, Wang HC3, Hsu JJ1, Yeh TK1, Liu HF4, Lin JH5.
Author information
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
To improve the diagnosis of laboratory surveillance, we conducted influenza-like illness (ILI) surveillance by using newly multiplex PCR Assay (FilmArray) compared to conventional methods during winter period in Taiwan.
METHODS:
Throat swabs from ILI patients presenting to physicians in sentinel practices were collected during 2016-2017 influenza season.
RESULTS:
A total of 52 samples were tested positive by FilmArray-Respiratory Panel, 40% of them were influenza A virus, subtype H3N2 viruses were the major epidemic strains. However, nearly 60% of ILI cases seen at sentinel sites were caused by non-influenza pathogens. Results from FilmArray and cell culture were identical to each other, and were higher sensitive than rapid influenza diagnostic test. Genetic analyses indicated new influenza A (H3N2) variants were observed which belong to a novel subclade 3C.2a2.
CONCLUSIONS:
The FilmArray facilitates urgent testing and laboratory surveillance for common viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens. Our study demonstrates the use of more sensitive methods with clinical samples is a feasible application in real world and has led to increased diagnostic rate of viral infection and to improve patient outcomes, especially a reduction on the overuse of antibiotics and antivirals.
Copyright ? 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
KEYWORDS:
Influenza virus; Taiwan; URI; multiplex PCR
PMID: 28625839 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2017.06.011
Surveillance of upper respiratory infections by using newly multiplex PCR assay compared to conventional methods during influenza season in Taiwan.
Chiu SC1, Lin YC2, Wang HC3, Hsu JJ1, Yeh TK1, Liu HF4, Lin JH5.
Author information
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
To improve the diagnosis of laboratory surveillance, we conducted influenza-like illness (ILI) surveillance by using newly multiplex PCR Assay (FilmArray) compared to conventional methods during winter period in Taiwan.
METHODS:
Throat swabs from ILI patients presenting to physicians in sentinel practices were collected during 2016-2017 influenza season.
RESULTS:
A total of 52 samples were tested positive by FilmArray-Respiratory Panel, 40% of them were influenza A virus, subtype H3N2 viruses were the major epidemic strains. However, nearly 60% of ILI cases seen at sentinel sites were caused by non-influenza pathogens. Results from FilmArray and cell culture were identical to each other, and were higher sensitive than rapid influenza diagnostic test. Genetic analyses indicated new influenza A (H3N2) variants were observed which belong to a novel subclade 3C.2a2.
CONCLUSIONS:
The FilmArray facilitates urgent testing and laboratory surveillance for common viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens. Our study demonstrates the use of more sensitive methods with clinical samples is a feasible application in real world and has led to increased diagnostic rate of viral infection and to improve patient outcomes, especially a reduction on the overuse of antibiotics and antivirals.
Copyright ? 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
KEYWORDS:
Influenza virus; Taiwan; URI; multiplex PCR
PMID: 28625839 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2017.06.011