Advanced methods for microbiological diagnosis of acute respiratory infectionsin children
General Medicine, 2024, 26(4), 59-66.
A. Angelova1,2,3, M. Atanasova2,3,4, R. Komitova5, T. Dimcheva6
1 Laboratory of Microbiology, St. George University Hospital – Plovdiv
2 Research Institute, Medical University – Plovdiv
3 Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology “Prof. Dr Elissay Yanev“, Faculty of Medicine, MU – Plovdiv
4 Laboratory of Virology, UMHAT “Sveti Georgi” – Plovdiv
5 Department of Infectious Diseases, Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, MU – Plovdiv
6 Department of Medical Informatics, Biostatistics and E-learning, Faculty of Public Health, MU – Plovdiv
Abstract. Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) remain a leading cause of global mortality and morbidity. Nearly 70% of children between the ages of one and four years and 90% of infants with respiratory illness are hospitalized. The causative agents of nearly 80% of ARIs are viruses. In Bulgaria, according to a study by the National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, in 82% and 70% of the cases of children with bronchiolitis and pneumonia, respectively, viral causative agents have been proven. This manuscript presents advanced methods for microbiological testing from respiratory specimens, with an accent on multiplex PCR and mass-spectrometry. These methods are a practical diagnostic approach, as they allow quick etiological diagnosis of ARIs in childhood (especially those caused by viruses and difficult-to-cultivate bacteria), detection of co-infections, rapid appointment of appropriate treatment and timely infection control.
Key words: multiplex PCR, respiratory infections, children
Address for correspondence: Andreana Christova Angelova, MD, e-mail: andreana.angelova@gmail.com