Comparative Epidemiology Of Human Metapneumovirus- And Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Hospitalizations In Guatemala

Background Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is an important cause of acute respiratory infections (ARI), but little is known about how it compares with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Central America. Objectives In this study, we describe hospitalized cases of HMPV- and RSV-ARI in Guatemala. Methods We conducted surveillance at three hospitals (November 2007-December 2012) and tested nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab specimens for HMPV and RSV using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. We calculated incidence rates, and compared the epidemiology and outcomes of HMPV-positive versus RSV-positive and RSV-HMPV-negative cases. Results We enrolled and tested specimens from 6288 ARI cases; 596 (9%) were HMPV-positive and 1485 (24%) were RSV-positive. We observed a seasonal pattern of RSV but not HMPV. The proportion HMPV-positive was low (3%) and RSV-positive high (41%) for age <1month, whereas these proportions were similar (similar to 20%) by age 2years. The annual incidence of hospitalized HMPV-ARI was 102/100000 children aged <5years [95% confidence interval (CI): 75-178], 2 center dot 6/100000 persons aged 5-17years (95%CI: 1 center dot 2-5 center dot 0), and 2 center dot 6/100000 persons aged 18years (95%CI: 1 center dot 5-4 center dot 9). Among children aged <5years, HMPV-positive cases were less severe than HMPV-RSV-negative cases after adjustment for confounders [odds ratio (OR) for intensive care=0 center dot 63, 95% CI 0 center dot 47-0 center dot 84]; OR for death=0 center dot 46, 95% CI 0 center dot 23-0 center dot 92). Conclusions Human metapneumovirus is a substantial contributor to ARI hospitalization in Guatemala, but HMPV hospitalizations are less frequent than RSV and, in young children, less severe than other etiologies. Preventive interventions should take into account the wide variation in incidence by age and unpredictable timing of incidence peaks.