Pathogen spectrum and epidemiology of respiratory tract infections in Quzhou, Eastern China, from November 2023 to July 2024: A post-COVID-19 surveillance study.

Publication date: Mar 19, 2026

After the relaxation of COVID-19 containment measures, we investigated the pathogen spectrum and epidemiological characteristics of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in Quzhou City from 2023 to 2024. This study aimed to investigate the pathogen spectrum and epidemiological characteristics of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in Quzhou City from 2023 to 2024, providing a scientific basis for local prevention and control strategies. A total of 2,800 respiratory specimens were collected from November 2023 to July 2024, comprising 1,960 influenza-like illness (ILI) cases from outpatient/emergency departments and 840 severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases from inpatient departments. All samples were tested for 13 common respiratory pathogens using multiplex fluorescence quantitative PCR. Etiological and epidemiological analyses were performed based on detection results and case information. The overall ARI positivity rate was 59. 28% (1,660/2,800), with a male-to-female ratio of 1. 07:1 (1,447/1,353). The three most prevalent pathogens were influenza virus (Flu, 23. 21%, 650/2,800), Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP, 13. 14%, 368/2,800), and adenovirus (ADV, 8. 39%, 235/2,800). Single pathogen infections accounted for 73. 55% (1,221/1,660) of positive cases, while co-infections with two or more pathogens accounted for 26. 45% (439/1,660), yielding an overall co-infection rate of 15. 68% (439/2,800). No significant gender difference was observed in detection rates. However, significant differences were found across case types, temporal periods, age groups, and geographic regions (P 

Open Access PDF

Concepts Keywords
Inpatient Adolescent
July Adult
Pneumoniae Aged
Surveillance Child
Child, Preschool
China
Coinfection
COVID-19
Female
Humans
Infant
Influenza, Human
Male
Middle Aged
Respiratory Tract Infections
SARS-CoV-2
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Young Adult

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH respiratory tract infections
disease MESH COVID-19
disease MESH influenza
disease MESH emergency
disease MESH infections
disease MESH co-infections
drug DRUGBANK (S)-Des-Me-Ampa
drug DRUGBANK Coenzyme M
disease MESH char

Original Article

(Visited 3 times, 1 visits today)

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *