J Korean Med Sci.  2013 Jan;28(1):36-41. 10.3346/jkms.2013.28.1.36.

Respiratory Viral Infections after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Children

• Choi JH
• Choi EH
• Kang HJ
• Park KD
• Park SS
• Shin HY
• Lee HJ
• Ahn HS

• KMID: 2157998
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2013.28.1.36

Abstract

This study was performed to characterize respiratory viral infections in pediatric patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Study samples included 402 respiratory specimens obtained from 358 clinical episodes that occurred in the 116 children of the 175 consecutive HSCT cohort at Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Korea from 2007 to 2010. Multiplex reverse-transcription polymerase chain reactions were performed for rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza viruses (PIVs), adenovirus, human coronavirus (hCoV), influenza viruses and human metapneumovirus. Viruses were identified in 89 clinical episodes that occurred in 58 patients. Among the 89 clinical episodes, frequently detected viruses were rhinovirus in 25 (28.1%), RSV in 23 (25.8%), PIV-3 in 16 (18.0%), adenovirus in 12 (13.5%), and hCoV in 10 (11.2%). Lower respiratory tract infections were diagnosed in 34 (38.2%). Neutropenia was present in 24 (27.0%) episodes and lymphopenia was in 31 (34.8%) episodes. Sixty-three percent of the clinical episodes were hospital-acquired. Three patients died of respiratory failure caused by respiratory viral infections. Respiratory viral infections in pediatric patients who have undergone HSCT are common and are frequently acquired during hospitalization. Continuous monitoring is required to determine the role of respiratory viruses in immunocompromised children and the importance of preventive strategies.

Keyword

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Respiratory Virus; Respiratory Infections

MeSH Terms

Adenoviridae/genetics/isolation & purification
Adolescent
Adult
Child
Child, Preschool
Cohort Studies
Coronavirus/genetics/isolation & purification
Female
*Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Hematopoietic Stem Cells/cytology
Hospitalization
Humans
Infant
Lymphopenia/epidemiology
Male
Neutropenia/epidemiology
Parainfluenza Virus 3, Human/genetics/isolation & purification
Prevalence
Respiratory Syncytial Viruses/genetics/isolation & purification
Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiology/therapy/*virology
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Rhinovirus/genetics/isolation & purification
Seasons
Young Adult

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Monthly distribution of respiratory viral infection.

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