Background: Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a negative single-stranded RNA virus. Infection by hMPV mainly affects the pediatric population and can cause upper or lower respiratory tract pathologies which can develop life threating complications. This study was carried out between 2009 and 2010 in a high complexity national hospital in Lima, Peru. The time frame corresponds to the pandemic of influenza A H1N1. Methods: RT-PCR was utilized to attain the amplification and identification of the virus.Results: A total of 539 samples were analized from patients with a clinical context suggestive of an acute respiratory tract infection. Of these samples 73 (13.54%) were positive for hMPV. Out of the positive cases, 63% were under 1 year old, and increased to nearly 80% when considering children younger than 2 years old. Cough was the most frequent symptom presented by our population with a number of 62 cases (84.93%). Viral seasonality was also established, noting its predominance during the months of summer in the southern hemisphere.Conclusions: The infection by hMPV has an important prevalence in Peru. It mainly affects children under 1 year old and can cause both upper and lower respiratory tract infections that can develop into potential life threating complications.

Background: Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a negative single-stranded RNA virus. Infection by hMPV mainly affects the pediatric population and can cause upper or lower respiratory tract pathologies which can develop life threating complications. This study was carried out between 2009 and 2010 in a high complexity national hospital in Lima, Peru. The time frame corresponds to the pandemic of influenza A H1N1. Methods: RT-PCR was utilized to attain the amplification and identification of the virus.Results: A total of 539 samples were analized from patients with a clinical context suggestive of an acute respiratory tract infection. Of these samples 73 (13.54%) were positive for hMPV. Out of the positive cases, 63% were under 1 year old, and increased to nearly 80% when considering children younger than 2 years old. Cough was the most frequent symptom presented by our population with a number of 62 cases (84.93%). Viral seasonality was also established, noting its predominance during the months of summer in the southern hemisphere.Conclusions: The infection by hMPV has an important prevalence in Peru. It mainly affects children under 1 year old and can cause both upper and lower respiratory tract infections that can develop into potential life threating complications.

Molecular etiological profile of atypical bacterial pathogens, viruses and coinfections among infants and children with community acquired pneumonia admitted to a national hospital in Lima, Peru.
Abstract Objetive: The main objective of this study was to detect the presence of 14 respiratory viruses and atypical bacteria (Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae), via Polymerase Chain Reaction in patients under 18 years old hospitalized due to CAP from Lima, Peru. Results: Atypical pathogens were detected in 39.73% (58/146); viral etiologies in 35.62% (52/146) and coinfections in 18.49% (27/146). The most common etiological agent was M. pneumoniae (n=47), followed by C. pneumoniae (n=11). The most frequent respiratory viruses detected were: respiratory syncytial virus A (n= 35), influenza virus C (n= 21) and parainfluenza virus (n= 10). Viral-bacterial and bacterium-bacterium coinfections were found in 27 cases. In our study population, atypical bacteria (39.73%) were detected as frequently as respiratory viruses (35.62%). The presence of M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae should not be underestimated as they can be commonly isolated in Peruvian children with CAP.