Trend in respiratory viruses' activity in the COVID-19 area.

OBJECTIVES: SARS-CoV-2 has impacted the detection of seasonal respiratory viruses. We retrospectively assessed the trend in the detection of 10 viruses in the COVID-19 area in 2 hospitals located in the Paris area. METHODS: All patients positive for a respiratory virus in two hospitals from September 2016 to August 2021 were retrospectively included. The rate of RT-PCR positive for each virus was calculated for the 2020-2021 season and the 2019-2020 season in comparison to a baseline of 3 seasons, i.e. 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019. RESULTS: Overall, 7,835 patients were tested positive from September 2016 to August 2021. The detection of respiratory virus dramatically falls on week-11 of 2020, as the number of RT-PCR performed. Then, 3 trends were identified: a) almost a disappearance for influenza; b) a 10-weeks delay in the seasonal outbreak for RSV; c) a persistence of circulation with variable activity for other viruses. In comparison to a baseline of three seasons (2016-2019), the rate of positive patients was lower during the 2020-2021 season for coronavirus (4.51% vs. 1.26%, P < 0.0001), adenovirus (1.93% vs. 1.34%, P = 0.14), bocavirus (0.58% vs. 0.11%, P = 0.08), and enterovirus (0.28% vs. 0.0%, P = 0.12). In contrast, the rate of hMPV-positive (1.92% vs. 2.83%, P = 0.03) and hPIV-positive (2.17% vs. 2.99%, P = 0.06) patients increased. CONCLUSIONS: The fall in the number of respiratory viruses detected might be related to the lower number of tests performed and the implementation of non pharmaceutical intervention (NPI). Then, all viruses except influenza are detected, probably as a consequence of high adherence to influenza vaccines. Despite, a lower number of tests being performed, the rate of hMPV-positive and hPIV-positive patients increased suggesting an active circulation of these viruses. Altogether, these findings suggest a persistent circulation of common respiratory viruses all over the COVID-19 era.

Contribution of the anaerobic blood culture vial for the recovery of Candida glabrata: A retrospective multicentric study.

Although Candida spp are aerobic microorganisms, some Candida strains, mainly Candida glabrata, can be recovered from anaerobic blood culture vials. We assessed the contribution of the anaerobic vials for the diagnosis of candidemia, especially for C. glabrata. We conducted a multicenter retrospective study including eight university or regional hospitals. A single episode of monomicrobial candidemia per patient was included from September 1st, 2016, to August 31st, 2019. The characteristics of all aerobic and anaerobic blood culture vials sampled within 2 h before and after the first positive blood culture vials were recorded (type of vials, result, and for positive vials time-to-positivity and Candida species). Overall, 509 episodes of candidemia were included. The main species were C. albicans (55.6%) followed by C. glabrata (17.1%), C. parapsilosis (4.9%), and C. tropicalis (4.5%). An anaerobic vial was positive in 76 (14.9%) of all episodes of which 56 (73.8%) were due to C. glabrata. The number of C. glabrata infections only positive in anaerobic vials was 1 (2.6%), 1 (11.1%), and 15 (37.5%) with the BACT/ALERT 3D the BACT/ALERT VIRTUO and the BACTEC FX instrument, respectively (P < 0.01). The initial positivity of an anaerobic vial was highly predictive of the isolation of C. glabrata with the BACTEC FX (sensitivity of 96.8%). C. glabrata time-to-positivity was shorter in anaerobic vial than aerobic vial with all instruments. Anaerobic blood culture vials improve the recovery of Candida spp mainly C. glabrata. This study could be completed by further analyses including mycological and pediatric vials. LAY SUMMARY: Although Candida spp are aerobic microorganisms, C. glabrata is able to grow in anaerobic conditions. In blood culture, the time-to-positivity of C. glabrata is shorter in anaerobic than aerobic vials. Only the anaerobic vial was positive in up to 15 (37.5%) C. glabrata bloodstream infections.

Combined use of dried blood spot and rapid molecular systems: A robust solution to monitor hepatitis B virus infection with potential for resource-limited countries.

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) particularly affects resource-limited countries. CHB management in these areas faces many obstacles for optimal care of patients, including poor access to HBV-DNA quantification, a key marker. This study aims to evaluate the quantification of HBV-DNA on dried blood spots (DBS) using rapid, standardized and fully automated on-demand systems. After a simple and rapid DBS elution protocol, HBV-DNA was simply and accurately quantified on this matrix using two different systems. Limit of quantification was estimated at 400 IU/mL. DBS and plasma HBV-DNA quantification provided comparable results. HBV-DNA stability for up to one month was demonstrated on DBS stored at room temperature, a condition compatible for preservation or transport before analysis. The combined use of DBS and commercially available automated molecular on-demand systems for HBV-DNA quantification could represent a reliable alternative in resource-limited countries to reach remote populations. The good sensitivity of this approach makes it attractive for mother-to-child transmission prevention, treatment decision and follow-up. Costs can be limited if such systems are also validated for other molecular markers.