Catiane Zanin Cabral1, Juliana Beirão de Almeida Guaragna2, Fernanda Chaves Amantéa3, Paulo Guilherme Markus Lopes4, Alessandro Cumaru Pasqualotto5, Claudia Ramos Rhoden1,4,5, Sérgio Luís Amantéa1,2,3,4. 1. Department of Postgraduate Program in Pediatrics, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. 2. Department of Pediatric Emergency, Santo Antônio Children's Hospital, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. 3. Department of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. 4. Department of Pollution and Oxidative Stress Laboratory, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. 5. Department of Postgraduate, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the presence of genetic material from potentially infectious airborne respiratory virus pathogens in a pediatric emergency department (PED) waiting room. METHODS: A cross-sectional study in the waiting room area of PED at Santo Antonio Children's Hospital, Porto Alegre, in southern Brazil. The room air samples were collected with a portable cyclone sampler (Coriolis®), twice a day (8 a.m. and 8 p.m.), during 5 consecutive weekdays, during two seasons, fall and spring (20 samples), in 2016. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to detect influenza A, influenza B, parainfluenza 2, parainfluenza 3, human metapneumovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, human adenovirus, human bocavirus, and Bordetella pertussis. The PED provides care to an average of 6000 patients per month and the age of patients ranges from 1 month to 17 years old. It is waiting area has 645 ft square. RESULTS: Genetic material from pathogens was detected in 12 out of 20 samples (60%). In 5 samples, more than one pathogen of respiratory virus was identified. Human adenovirus was the most frequent pathogen (n = 9/52%), followed by Bordetella pertussis (n = 4/24%), respiratory syncytial virus (n = 2/12%) and human bocavirus (n = 2/12%). Season and number of people in the waiting room were not associated with the presence of genetic material from pathogens. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic material from pathogens potentially associated with severe respiratory diseases was found in the room air of a pediatric ED waiting room.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the presence of genetic material from potentially infectious airborne respiratory virus pathogens in a pediatric emergency department (PED) waiting room. METHODS: A cross-sectional study in the waiting room area of PED at Santo Antonio Children's Hospital, Porto Alegre, in southern Brazil. The room air samples were collected with a portable cyclone sampler (Coriolis®), twice a day (8 a.m. and 8 p.m.), during 5 consecutive weekdays, during two seasons, fall and spring (20 samples), in 2016. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to detect influenza A, influenza B, parainfluenza 2, parainfluenza 3, human metapneumovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, human adenovirus, human bocavirus, and Bordetella pertussis. The PED provides care to an average of 6000 patients per month and the age of patients ranges from 1 month to 17 years old. It is waiting area has 645 ft square. RESULTS: Genetic material from pathogens was detected in 12 out of 20 samples (60%). In 5 samples, more than one pathogen of respiratory virus was identified. Human adenovirus was the most frequent pathogen (n = 9/52%), followed by Bordetella pertussis (n = 4/24%), respiratory syncytial virus (n = 2/12%) and human bocavirus (n = 2/12%). Season and number of people in the waiting room were not associated with the presence of genetic material from pathogens. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic material from pathogens potentially associated with severe respiratory diseases was found in the room air of a pediatric ED waiting room.