tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Clin Microbiol Infect
. 2026 Mar 17:S1198-743X(26)00112-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2026.03.005. Online ahead of print.
Self-testing for 5 respiratory viruses in adults ≥50 years of age in Germany for longitudinal monitoring of community-acquired acute respiratory infections
Julia A Nacov[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jon Salmanton-García[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Julia Jakobs[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Miranda Anggitakirana[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sarah Grimm[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Janina Leckler[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Katharina Köbe[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Louise M Cremer[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Pauline Wipfler[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jannik Stemler[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Heinz-Josef Schmitt[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ullrich Bethe[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Oliver A Cornely[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Objective: We aimed to systematically assess acute respiratory infection (ARI) episodes outside medical settings in older adults in Germany to capture real-time, community-based data on incidences, symptoms, healthcare use, and work absenteeism.
Methods: German adults aged ≥50 years enrolled in the VACCELERATE Volunteer Registry received multipathogen antigen test kits (MAK5) for self-testing, detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza A and B viruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and adenovirus (AdV). From May 2024 to May 2025, participants self-tested upon ARI symptoms and reported test results, symptoms, episode duration, medical consultations, illness-related work absenteeism, pre-existing conditions, vaccination history, and previous infections.
Results: Of 3,162 individuals enrolled, 2,890 (91.4%) actively participated. Overall, 45.5% (1,314/2,890) reported no ARI, 31.4% (908/2,890) one, and 22.8% (658/2,890) ≥2 episodes (median: 2; interquartile range [IQR]: 1-3; range: 0-6). Among 2,569 tests, 752 (29.3%) were positive, including 53 (7.0%) co-detections, yielding 833 pathogen detections. Cumulative incidence was 18.5% (524/2,890) for SARS-CoV-2, 4.0% (114/2,890) for AdV, 3.8% (110/2,890) for influenza A virus, 1.8% (52/2,890) for RSV, and 1.1% (33/2,890) for influenza B virus. Median ARI duration ranged from 6 days (IQR: 5-8, range: 1-20) for SARS-CoV-2 to 9 days (IQR: 5-15, range: 1-26) for RSV. Median age ranged from 56 years (IQR: 54 -61; range: 50-80) for AdV to 61 years (IQR: 56-67; range: 51-81) for RSV. Medical consultation occurred in 28.8% (15/52) RSV, and 15.3% (80/524) SARS-CoV-2 cases. SARS-CoV-2 detections accounted for 31.1% (222/713) of illness-related work absences and 2/9 (22.2%) hospitalizations.
Conclusion: This study enabled real-time, community-based monitoring of five endemic pathogens. While SARS-CoV-2 accounted for highest cumulative incidence and overall disease burden, RSV detections, though less frequent, were predominantly observed in older adults and were associated with greater per-case burden, reflected in longer illness duration and increased healthcare utilization.
Keywords: COVID-19; MAK5; Rapid antigen test; burden of disease; endemic viruses; incidence; lateral flow; multiplex; outbreaks; surveillance; viral.
. 2026 Mar 17:S1198-743X(26)00112-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2026.03.005. Online ahead of print.
Self-testing for 5 respiratory viruses in adults ≥50 years of age in Germany for longitudinal monitoring of community-acquired acute respiratory infections
Julia A Nacov[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jon Salmanton-García[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Julia Jakobs[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Miranda Anggitakirana[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sarah Grimm[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Janina Leckler[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Katharina Köbe[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Louise M Cremer[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Pauline Wipfler[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jannik Stemler[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Heinz-Josef Schmitt[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ullrich Bethe[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Oliver A Cornely[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 41856404
- DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2026.03.005
Objective: We aimed to systematically assess acute respiratory infection (ARI) episodes outside medical settings in older adults in Germany to capture real-time, community-based data on incidences, symptoms, healthcare use, and work absenteeism.
Methods: German adults aged ≥50 years enrolled in the VACCELERATE Volunteer Registry received multipathogen antigen test kits (MAK5) for self-testing, detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza A and B viruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and adenovirus (AdV). From May 2024 to May 2025, participants self-tested upon ARI symptoms and reported test results, symptoms, episode duration, medical consultations, illness-related work absenteeism, pre-existing conditions, vaccination history, and previous infections.
Results: Of 3,162 individuals enrolled, 2,890 (91.4%) actively participated. Overall, 45.5% (1,314/2,890) reported no ARI, 31.4% (908/2,890) one, and 22.8% (658/2,890) ≥2 episodes (median: 2; interquartile range [IQR]: 1-3; range: 0-6). Among 2,569 tests, 752 (29.3%) were positive, including 53 (7.0%) co-detections, yielding 833 pathogen detections. Cumulative incidence was 18.5% (524/2,890) for SARS-CoV-2, 4.0% (114/2,890) for AdV, 3.8% (110/2,890) for influenza A virus, 1.8% (52/2,890) for RSV, and 1.1% (33/2,890) for influenza B virus. Median ARI duration ranged from 6 days (IQR: 5-8, range: 1-20) for SARS-CoV-2 to 9 days (IQR: 5-15, range: 1-26) for RSV. Median age ranged from 56 years (IQR: 54 -61; range: 50-80) for AdV to 61 years (IQR: 56-67; range: 51-81) for RSV. Medical consultation occurred in 28.8% (15/52) RSV, and 15.3% (80/524) SARS-CoV-2 cases. SARS-CoV-2 detections accounted for 31.1% (222/713) of illness-related work absences and 2/9 (22.2%) hospitalizations.
Conclusion: This study enabled real-time, community-based monitoring of five endemic pathogens. While SARS-CoV-2 accounted for highest cumulative incidence and overall disease burden, RSV detections, though less frequent, were predominantly observed in older adults and were associated with greater per-case burden, reflected in longer illness duration and increased healthcare utilization.
Keywords: COVID-19; MAK5; Rapid antigen test; burden of disease; endemic viruses; incidence; lateral flow; multiplex; outbreaks; surveillance; viral.