Respiratory pathogens detected in specimens collected for COVID-19 surveillance in Zambia
Background: In Zambia, knowledge on the landscape of respiratory pathogens that circulated during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is limited. Aim: This study investigated respiratory pathogens that circulated in Zambia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Setting: Nasopharyngeal specimen...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Public Health in Africa |
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| Online Access: | https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/684 |
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| author | Martin Nyahoda Ngonda Saasa Katendi Changula Walter Muleya Zachariah Mupila Chilufya Chikoti Gift Moonga Catherine Sutcliffe Geoffrey Kwenda Edgar Simulundu |
| author_facet | Martin Nyahoda Ngonda Saasa Katendi Changula Walter Muleya Zachariah Mupila Chilufya Chikoti Gift Moonga Catherine Sutcliffe Geoffrey Kwenda Edgar Simulundu |
| author_sort | Martin Nyahoda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: In Zambia, knowledge on the landscape of respiratory pathogens that circulated during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is limited.
Aim: This study investigated respiratory pathogens that circulated in Zambia during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Setting: Nasopharyngeal specimens collected between July 2020 and July 2021 for COVID-19 testing in hospitals, ports of entry, persons seeking certificates for international travel and in communities were used.
Methods: Proportional age-stratified sampling was used to select 128 specimens. The samples were screened for 33 other respiratory pathogens using the Fast Track Diagnostics multiplex molecular assay.
Results: Overall, 71.1% (n = 91/128) tested positive for at least one respiratory pathogen. Bacterial respiratory pathogens were more predominant (70.3%, n = 90/128) than viral (51.6%, n = 66/128). Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent, detected in 22.7% (n = 29/128). The prevalence of influenza was 13.3% (n = 17/128). Rhinovirus had a prevalence of 3.1% (n = 4/128), while it was 10.1% (n = 13/128) for adenovirus. Children, adolescents and the elderly accounted for most influenza-positive specimens, 76.5% (n = 13/17), while 100% (n = 3/3) of specimens positive for Moraxella catarrhalis were from children. All specimens testing positive for Haemophilus influenzae, 100% (n = 5/5) were from children and adolescents. Co-infections were detected in 57.1% (n = 52/91) of specimens testing positive for at least one pathogen.
Conclusion: Bacterial respiratory pathogens appeared to predominate circulation during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
Contribution: Bacterial respiratory pathogens should not be neglected when implementing public health mitigation measures. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ca4d8bd881be4463b3cbd784eb7576e5 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2038-9922 2038-9930 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Public Health in Africa |
| spelling | doaj-art-ca4d8bd881be4463b3cbd784eb7576e52025-08-20T02:14:03ZengAOSISJournal of Public Health in Africa2038-99222038-99302025-02-01161e1e710.4102/jphia.v16i1.684808Respiratory pathogens detected in specimens collected for COVID-19 surveillance in ZambiaMartin Nyahoda0Ngonda Saasa1Katendi Changula2Walter Muleya3Zachariah Mupila4Chilufya Chikoti5Gift Moonga6Catherine Sutcliffe7Geoffrey Kwenda8Edgar Simulundu9Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, LusakaDepartment of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, LusakaDepartment of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, LusakaDepartment of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, LusakaMicrobiology Laboratory, University Teaching Hospital, LusakaMicrobiology Laboratory, University Teaching Hospital, LusakaMicrobiology Laboratory, University Teaching Hospital, LusakaDepartment of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States of AmericaDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, LusakaDepartment of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, LusakaBackground: In Zambia, knowledge on the landscape of respiratory pathogens that circulated during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is limited. Aim: This study investigated respiratory pathogens that circulated in Zambia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Setting: Nasopharyngeal specimens collected between July 2020 and July 2021 for COVID-19 testing in hospitals, ports of entry, persons seeking certificates for international travel and in communities were used. Methods: Proportional age-stratified sampling was used to select 128 specimens. The samples were screened for 33 other respiratory pathogens using the Fast Track Diagnostics multiplex molecular assay. Results: Overall, 71.1% (n = 91/128) tested positive for at least one respiratory pathogen. Bacterial respiratory pathogens were more predominant (70.3%, n = 90/128) than viral (51.6%, n = 66/128). Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent, detected in 22.7% (n = 29/128). The prevalence of influenza was 13.3% (n = 17/128). Rhinovirus had a prevalence of 3.1% (n = 4/128), while it was 10.1% (n = 13/128) for adenovirus. Children, adolescents and the elderly accounted for most influenza-positive specimens, 76.5% (n = 13/17), while 100% (n = 3/3) of specimens positive for Moraxella catarrhalis were from children. All specimens testing positive for Haemophilus influenzae, 100% (n = 5/5) were from children and adolescents. Co-infections were detected in 57.1% (n = 52/91) of specimens testing positive for at least one pathogen. Conclusion: Bacterial respiratory pathogens appeared to predominate circulation during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Contribution: Bacterial respiratory pathogens should not be neglected when implementing public health mitigation measures.https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/684respiratory pathogenscovid-19co-infectionssurveillancezambia |
| spellingShingle | Martin Nyahoda Ngonda Saasa Katendi Changula Walter Muleya Zachariah Mupila Chilufya Chikoti Gift Moonga Catherine Sutcliffe Geoffrey Kwenda Edgar Simulundu Respiratory pathogens detected in specimens collected for COVID-19 surveillance in Zambia Journal of Public Health in Africa respiratory pathogens covid-19 co-infections surveillance zambia |
| title | Respiratory pathogens detected in specimens collected for COVID-19 surveillance in Zambia |
| title_full | Respiratory pathogens detected in specimens collected for COVID-19 surveillance in Zambia |
| title_fullStr | Respiratory pathogens detected in specimens collected for COVID-19 surveillance in Zambia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Respiratory pathogens detected in specimens collected for COVID-19 surveillance in Zambia |
| title_short | Respiratory pathogens detected in specimens collected for COVID-19 surveillance in Zambia |
| title_sort | respiratory pathogens detected in specimens collected for covid 19 surveillance in zambia |
| topic | respiratory pathogens covid-19 co-infections surveillance zambia |
| url | https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/684 |
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