Respiratory Tract Viral Agents in the COVID 19 Pandemic

English (OpenAlex)

Introduction: With the increase in the number of patients presenting with respiratory tract symptoms during the pandemic, the differentia ldiagnosis of seasonal respiratory diseases and Coronavirus 2019 (COVID 19) has gained importance, and multiplex PCR (polymerase chain reaction) techniques are needed due to insufficient clinical and laboratory data for differentiation.W e planned this study to determine the frequency of other respiratory viral agents accompanying SARS CoV -2, to determine the dominant viral agents and to determine the rate of coinfection.Material method: Patients aged 18-80 years who applied to the COVID 19 out patient clinic in our hospital between 01.01.2021 and 01.04.2021 with respiratory tract infection symptoms were included in the study.Two simultaneous nasopharyngeal swab samples were taken from the patients and examined for SARS CoV-2 and other respiratory viral agents.Demographic data, clinical complaints and laboratory values of the patients were recorded.Conclusion: A total of 80 patients were included in the study.SARS CoV-2 PCR positivity was detected in 14 of the patients (17.5%), and rhinovirus in 4 patients, rhinovirus/enterovirus and SARS COV 2 PCR positivity in 1 patient.Co -infection was seen in 1 (1.25%) patient.Discussion: In our study, the frequency of viral agents other than SARS CoV-2 was found to be less than the incidence in the pre-pandemic period.This situation was thought to be related to the mask, distance and hand hygiene measures taken to protect against COVID 19 infection.Other respiratory viral agents should be kept in mind in cases who present with symptoms of respiratory tract infection and have a negative SARS CoV-2 PCR test and imaging findings do not support COVID 19.