Viral Aetiology of Severe Acute Respiratory Infections in Hospitalised Adult Patients in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Aims: Pneumonia is a leading cause of morbidity and a significant cause of mortality worldwide. Although information is available on pneumonia in children, the incidence in adults in many parts of Africa including Côte d'Ivoire is unknown. Knowledge of local etiologic agents of pneumonia is critical for making reasonable decisions about treatment as differences in etiology may result in poor response to therapy chosen to cover common pathogenic microbes in studies done in high countries of income.

The objective of this study was to identify the viral etiology of pneumonia in adult patients with pneumonia in Abidjan, Côte d 'Ivoire.

Study Design: This is a prospective experimental study conducted on the basis of the successive recruitment of patients admitted to hospital for severe pulmonary interstitial pneumonitis confirmed by radio or CT scan of the thorax.

Place and Duration of Study: Pneumophtisiology department (PPH) of the University Hospital Center of Cocody (Côte d'Ivoire) and laboratory of Bacteriology- Virology of Pasteur Institut of Côte d’Ivoire, between February 2016 and October 2017.

Methodology: Among all admitted patients in the unit of pneumophtisiology (PPH) of the hospital University, 90 patients aged at least 18 years were pre-included. A total of 33 bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) samples from adults suspected of pneumonia were analyzed. The viruses were identified by the real-time multiplex reverse polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results: Of the 33 BAL samples tested, 18.2% (6/33) viral agents were detected. Parainfluenza-3 PV-3 was the most prevalent virus (57.1%, 4/7), followed by coronavirus OC43 (14.3%, 1/7), coronavirus HKUI (14.3%, 1/7). ) and human rhinovirus (14.3%, 1/7).

A virus and virus association was detected, which was PV-3 associated with coronavirus HKUI (14.3%, 1/7).

Conclusion: The viral etiology of pneumonia is not very frequent in Côte d’Ivoire.