Caracterización de virus respiratorios aislados en pacientes con Infección Respiratoria Aguda Grave ingresados en el servicio de UCIP del Hospital del Niño Dr. Francisco de Icaza Bustamante en el periodo 2024-2025.

Abstract

Background: Severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population worldwide and are a frequent reason for admission to pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). Objective: To characterize the respiratory viruses isolated in patients with SARI admitted to the PICU at the Dr. Francisco de Icaza Bustamante Children's Hospital during the period 2024-2025. Materials and methods: A descriptive, retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted by reviewing the medical records of pediatric patients diagnosed with severe acute respiratory infection admitted to the PICU during the period 2024-2025. A descriptive analysis was performed, with quantitative variables measured using measures of central tendency and dispersion, and qualitative variables measured using percentage frequencies. Results: During 2024-2025, 42 viral isolates were identified in pediatric patients with SARI. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) predominated in both years (53.33% in 2024 and 66.67% in 2025), followed by SARS-CoV-2 in 2024 and metapneumovirus in 2025. Most cases occur in children under one year of age (73.33% and 77.78%). In 2024, males predominated (60%), while in 2025, females predominated (77.78%). The frequencies of comorbidities were 46.67% in 2024 and 37.04% in 2025. In both years, a stay of ≤8 days predominated. Complications were more frequent in 2025, and the highest fatality rate was in 2025. Conclusions: Respiratory syncytial virus was the main etiological agent associated with ARI in pediatric patients admitted to the PICU, especially in children under one year of age.