Interpretation of indoor air surveillance for respiratory infections: a prospective longitudinal observational study in a childcare setting.

IF 9.7 1区医学 Q1 MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL

EBioMedicine Pub Date : 2025-02-01 Epub Date: 2025-01-30 DOI:10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105512

Caspar Geenen, Steven Traets, Sarah Gorissen, Michiel Happaerts, Kurt Beuselinck, Lies Laenen, Jens Swinnen, Sien Ombelet, Joren Raymenants, Els Keyaerts, Emmanuel André

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Sampling the air in indoor congregate settings, where respiratory pathogens are ubiquitous, may constitute a valuable yet underutilised data source for community-wide surveillance of respiratory infections. However, there is a lack of research comparing air sampling and individual sampling of attendees. Therefore, it remains unclear how air sampling results should be interpreted for the purpose of surveillance.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, we compared the presence and concentration of several respiratory pathogens in the air with the number of attendees with infections and the pathogen load in their nasal mucus. Weekly for 22 consecutive weeks, we sampled the air in a single childcare setting in Belgium. Concurrently, we collected the paper tissues used to wipe the noses of 23 regular attendees: children aged zero to three and childcare workers. All samples were tested for 29 respiratory pathogens using PCR.

Findings: Air sampling sensitively detected most respiratory pathogens found in nasal mucus. Some pathogens (SARS-CoV-2, Pneumocystis jirovecii) were found repeatedly in the air, but rarely in nasal mucus, whilst the opposite was true for others (Human coronavirus NL63). All three pathogens with a clear outbreak pattern (Human coronavirus HKU-1, human parainfluenza virus 3 and 4) were found in the air one week before or concurrent with the first detection in paper tissue samples. The presence and concentration of pathogens in the air was best predicted by the pathogen load of the most infectious case. However, air pathogen concentrations also correlated with the number of attendees with infections. Detection and concentration in the air were associated with CO₂ concentration, a marker of ventilation and occupancy.

Interpretation: Our results suggest that air sampling could provide sensitive, responsive epidemiological indicators for the surveillance of respiratory pathogens. Using air CO₂ concentrations to normalise such signals emerges as a promising approach.

Funding: KU Leuven; DURABLE project, under the EU4Health Programme of the European Commission; Thermo Fisher Scientific.

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室内空气监测对呼吸道感染的解释：一项儿童保育机构的前瞻性纵向观察研究。

背景：在呼吸道病原体普遍存在的室内聚集环境中进行空气采样，可能是社区范围内呼吸道感染监测的宝贵但未得到充分利用的数据源。然而，缺乏比较空气采样和与会者个人采样的研究。因此，目前尚不清楚空气采样结果应如何解释为监测的目的。方法：在这项前瞻性观察研究中，我们比较了空气中几种呼吸道病原体的存在和浓度与感染人数和鼻粘液中的病原体载量。在连续22周的时间里，我们每周在比利时的一个托儿场所对空气进行采样。与此同时，我们收集了23名常客（0至3岁的儿童和托儿工作者）擦鼻子用的纸巾。所有样本均采用PCR检测29种呼吸道病原体。结果：空气取样灵敏地检出鼻腔黏液中大多数呼吸道病原体。一些病原体（SARS-CoV-2、耶氏肺囊虫）反复在空气中发现，但很少在鼻粘液中发现，而其他病原体（人类冠状病毒NL63）则相反。所有三种具有明确暴发模式的病原体（人类冠状病毒HKU-1、人类副流感病毒3和4）均在首次在纸组织样本中检测到之前一周或同时在空气中发现。空气中病原体的存在和浓度最好由最具传染性病例的病原体负荷来预测。然而，空气病原体浓度也与感染人数相关。空气中的检测和浓度与二氧化碳浓度有关，二氧化碳浓度是通风和占用的标志。结论：空气采样可为呼吸道病原体监测提供敏感、灵敏的流行病学指标。利用空气中的二氧化碳浓度来使这些信号正常化是一种很有前途的方法。资助：鲁汶大学；欧洲联盟委员会卫生方案下的可持续发展项目；赛默飞世尔科技公司。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

EBioMedicine Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology-General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology

CiteScore

17.70

自引率

0.90%

发文量

579

审稿时长

5 weeks

期刊介绍： eBioMedicine is a comprehensive biomedical research journal that covers a wide range of studies that are relevant to human health. Our focus is on original research that explores the fundamental factors influencing human health and disease, including the discovery of new therapeutic targets and treatments, the identification of biomarkers and diagnostic tools, and the investigation and modification of disease pathways and mechanisms. We welcome studies from any biomedical discipline that contribute to our understanding of disease and aim to improve human health.