Community-acquired respiratory infections (CARTIs) cause serious morbidities globally. Determining the etiology can lower the use of unnecessary antimicrobial therapy. A recent study by Helou M. et al. determined the pathogenic agents responsible for respiratory infections in patients presenting to the emergency department of several Lebanese hospitals. 

It included 100 patients identified as having CARTIs. The study collected the specimens of upper and lower respiratory tract samples and detected pathogens by a multiplex polymerase chain reaction respiratory panel. 

The study found that among 100 specimens, 84 contained at least one pathogen. Many patients had ≥2 pathogens. The total number of pathogens derived from these 84 patients was 163. Of these pathogens, 22% were human rhinovirus, 17% were Streptococcus pneumoniae, 10% were metapneumovirus, 10% were influenza A virus, and a trace percentage of the other pathogens. It observed that the highest occurrence of pathogens was between December and March. The respiratory syncytial virus made up only 2% of the cases and correlated only to pediatric patients. 

This study shows that CARTI epidemiology is important and understudied. Viruses are the most common aetiologies of CARTIs. Thus, we must use a different approach for the empirical management of CARTI. Rapid testing might help identify patients who need antibiotic therapy.

Helou M, Mahdi A, Daoud Z., et al. Epidemiology of Community-Acquired Respiratory Tract Infections in Patients Admitted at the Emergency Departments. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022;7(233). https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7090233