Human metapneumovirus infection in adults with community-acquired pneumonia and exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

We tested nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens by real-time polymerase chain reaction assays and paired serum samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Acute human metapneumovirus infections were identified in 6 (4.1%) of 145 adult patients who presented to the emergency department for pneumonia or acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during 2 winter/spring seasons in Quebec, Canada.