A Retrospective Analysis of Changes in Respiratory Pathogens During the Influenza Season Before and After the Relaxation of Non‐Pharmaceutical Intervention Policies

ABSTRACT Background and Aims The COVID‐19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the transmission dynamics and epidemiology of respiratory pathogens, primarily due to non‐pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). This study aims to evaluate the effects of NPIs on the characteristics of winter respiratory patho...

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Main Authors: Lin Zhang, Xiang Long, Yun‐Ju Yuan, Su‐Li Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-04-01
Series:Health Science Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70618
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author Lin Zhang
Xiang Long
Yun‐Ju Yuan
Su‐Li Zhao
author_facet Lin Zhang
Xiang Long
Yun‐Ju Yuan
Su‐Li Zhao
author_sort Lin Zhang
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background and Aims The COVID‐19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the transmission dynamics and epidemiology of respiratory pathogens, primarily due to non‐pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). This study aims to evaluate the effects of NPIs on the characteristics of winter respiratory pathogens. Methods This study involved the collection of respiratory pathogen test results from all patients tested at our hospital during two distinct periods: September 2021 to May 2022 and September 2022 to May 2023. The comparison of positive rates was performed using the χ2 test. A p‐value less than 0.05 indicates no statistical significance. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 22.0. Results The predominant pathogen during the 2021/2022 flu seasons was identified as Inf B (1095/9309, 11.76%). Conversely, during the 2022/2023 flu seasons, Inf A emerged as the most prevalent pathogen (4040/18,770, 21.52%). Notably, the positive rates of parainfluenza virus and M. pneumoniae were lower in the 2022/2023 flu seasons, while the positive rate of L. pneumophila was higher. Furthermore, the number of positive SARS‐CoV‐2 cases in the 2022/2023 flu seasons increased nearly fivefold compared to the 2021/2022 flu seasons. Conclusions The findings of this study suggest that the relaxation of NPIs has a notable influence on the transmission of certain respiratory pathogens within the population. We propose the implementation of ongoing surveillance to monitor the epidemiology and evolutionary dynamics of various respiratory pathogens, particularly in situations where NPIs are no longer necessary.
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spelling doaj-art-e53d28dd1a7642de86b9cd3aaeb35f772025-08-20T01:48:34ZengWileyHealth Science Reports2398-88352025-04-0184n/an/a10.1002/hsr2.70618A Retrospective Analysis of Changes in Respiratory Pathogens During the Influenza Season Before and After the Relaxation of Non‐Pharmaceutical Intervention PoliciesLin Zhang0Xiang Long1Yun‐Ju Yuan2Su‐Li Zhao3Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yichang Central People's Hospital, The First College of Clinical Medical Science China Three Gorges University Yichang ChinaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Yichang Central People's Hospital, The First College of Clinical Medical Science China Three Gorges University Yichang ChinaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Yichang Central People's Hospital, The First College of Clinical Medical Science China Three Gorges University Yichang ChinaDepartment of Stomatology, Affiliated Renhe Hospital China Three Gorges University Yichang Hubei ChinaABSTRACT Background and Aims The COVID‐19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the transmission dynamics and epidemiology of respiratory pathogens, primarily due to non‐pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). This study aims to evaluate the effects of NPIs on the characteristics of winter respiratory pathogens. Methods This study involved the collection of respiratory pathogen test results from all patients tested at our hospital during two distinct periods: September 2021 to May 2022 and September 2022 to May 2023. The comparison of positive rates was performed using the χ2 test. A p‐value less than 0.05 indicates no statistical significance. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 22.0. Results The predominant pathogen during the 2021/2022 flu seasons was identified as Inf B (1095/9309, 11.76%). Conversely, during the 2022/2023 flu seasons, Inf A emerged as the most prevalent pathogen (4040/18,770, 21.52%). Notably, the positive rates of parainfluenza virus and M. pneumoniae were lower in the 2022/2023 flu seasons, while the positive rate of L. pneumophila was higher. Furthermore, the number of positive SARS‐CoV‐2 cases in the 2022/2023 flu seasons increased nearly fivefold compared to the 2021/2022 flu seasons. Conclusions The findings of this study suggest that the relaxation of NPIs has a notable influence on the transmission of certain respiratory pathogens within the population. We propose the implementation of ongoing surveillance to monitor the epidemiology and evolutionary dynamics of various respiratory pathogens, particularly in situations where NPIs are no longer necessary.https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70618COVID‐19 pandemicinfluenzaNPIsrespiratory pathogensSARS‐CoV‐2
spellingShingle Lin Zhang
Xiang Long
Yun‐Ju Yuan
Su‐Li Zhao
A Retrospective Analysis of Changes in Respiratory Pathogens During the Influenza Season Before and After the Relaxation of Non‐Pharmaceutical Intervention Policies
Health Science Reports
COVID‐19 pandemic
influenza
NPIs
respiratory pathogens
SARS‐CoV‐2
title A Retrospective Analysis of Changes in Respiratory Pathogens During the Influenza Season Before and After the Relaxation of Non‐Pharmaceutical Intervention Policies
title_full A Retrospective Analysis of Changes in Respiratory Pathogens During the Influenza Season Before and After the Relaxation of Non‐Pharmaceutical Intervention Policies
title_fullStr A Retrospective Analysis of Changes in Respiratory Pathogens During the Influenza Season Before and After the Relaxation of Non‐Pharmaceutical Intervention Policies
title_full_unstemmed A Retrospective Analysis of Changes in Respiratory Pathogens During the Influenza Season Before and After the Relaxation of Non‐Pharmaceutical Intervention Policies
title_short A Retrospective Analysis of Changes in Respiratory Pathogens During the Influenza Season Before and After the Relaxation of Non‐Pharmaceutical Intervention Policies
title_sort retrospective analysis of changes in respiratory pathogens during the influenza season before and after the relaxation of non pharmaceutical intervention policies
topic COVID‐19 pandemic
influenza
NPIs
respiratory pathogens
SARS‐CoV‐2
url https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70618
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