Analysis of Detection and Epidemiological Characteristics of Respiratory Pathogens in Children in Zibo from 2020 to 2022

DOI: 10.12201/bmr.202504.00019

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  Abstract: Objective To analyze the distribution and epidemiological characteristics of 13 common respiratory pathogens in children in Zibo from 2020 to 2022, providing a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of pediatric respiratory infections.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on clinical data from 3,091 hospitalized children with respiratory infections at the Pediatric Department of Zibo Maternal and Child Health Hospital between January 2020 and December 2022. Throat swabs or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples were collected, and 13 common respiratory pathogens were detected using capillary electrophoresis-based multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Statistical analysis of pathogen distribution across gender, age groups, and seasons was performed using SPSS 25.0 software.Results Of the 3,091 cases, 1,794 (58.03%) tested positive for respiratory pathogens. The three most prevalent pathogens were Mycoplasma pneumoniae (17.7%), rhinovirus (16.5%), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (8.7%). The single-infection rate was 47.75%, while mixed infections accounted for 10.28%, with dual-pathogen infections being the most common. No significant difference was found in positivity rates between males (57.7%) and females (58.5%) (P > 0.05). Pathogen distribution varied significantly across age groups (P < 0.001): RSV predominated in infants (18.1%), rhinovirus was most frequent in toddlers (17.2%), and Mycoplasma pneumoniae was the leading pathogen in both preschool (20.2%) and school-aged children (53.2%). Seasonally, the positivity rate was highest in autumn (69.9%) and lowest in spring (30.7%) (P < 0.05). Rhinovirus and Mycoplasma pneumoniae were dominant in spring, rhinovirus and parainfluenza virus in summer, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and RSV in autumn, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae and influenza B virus in winter.
  Conclusion From 2020 to 2022, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, rhinovirus, and RSV were the predominant respiratory pathogens among children in Zibo. Pathogen distribution showed significant variations across age groups and seasons, highlighting the need for targeted prevention strategies.

  Key words: Children; Respiratory infections; Pathogen distribution; Epidemiological characteristics; Polymerase chain reaction

  Submit time: 8 April 2025

  Copyright: The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted biomedRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity.
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